Assembly rejects PPP's motion on economy

JAKARTA (JP): The People's Consultative Assembly asked the minority faction the United Development Party (PPP) yesterday to drop its motion for the establishment of a decree on a democratic economy.

Wiranto, who chairs the Assembly committee in charge of nonstate policy guidelines, said that all the five factions in the Assembly agreed to give the Moslem-based faction time-out to reconsider.

The PPP was also urged to defer to another committee, and have its proposal included in the draft 1998/2003 State Policy Guidelines.

The decision to give PPP time-out was reached during a lobby among representatives of the factions presided over by Wiranto.

"None of us turns a blind eye to unsolved problems in our economic development in the past 30 years... It requires an all- out effort to improve in the future to meet the people's expectations. The problem now is where the concept should be presented," said Wiranto, who is also Army Chief of Staff.

PPP demanded the Assembly establish a separate and more powerful decree on democratic economy to serve as legal footing for the establishment of an equity-oriented national development program.

It said that, on one hand, development had boosted the country's income per capita, but on the other hand, it had caused growing socioeconomic disparity.

Golkar, the Armed Forces and regional representatives factions opposed the bid, saying that the State Policy Guidelines had always included the spirit of a democratic economy.

The minority Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) faction suggested that it join forces with PPP to campaign for Pancasila democracy which included a democratic economy.

Debate on a democratic economy is also underway in the committee in charge of policy guidelines, chaired by R. Hartono.

Wiranto hinted yesterday that PPP was ready to give up its bid.

"During the lobby they said their major goal was demanding the Assembly adopt its idea on a democratic economy in the whole process of the national development program," Wiranto said.

PPP legislator Muhammad Buang said his faction would consider Wiranto's offer for time-out, but insisted that it would battle it out to campaign for such a principal matter like a democratic economy.

"We are prepared to extend the deliberation until the general session in March," he said.

Deliberation of PPP's draft will resume today.

The committee in charge of nonstate policy guidelines has so far been undecided on drafts of amendment to general election rules sponsored by PPP and PDI, and of Pancasila democracy initiated by PDI.

Earlier yesterday, a group of Hindu students demanded the Assembly support revocation of five political laws commonly accused of discouraging democratization in the country.

The laws on mass organization, political parties, general election, position of the parliament and the People's Consultative Assembly and referendum were enacted in 1985.

Chairman of the Association of Hindu Students, K. Wiriana, told deputy speaker of the Assembly Poedjono Pranjoto that political reforms were needed to ensure practices that recognized diversity and a fair recruitment process of political elite.

"If we want democratic order, we have to establish laws that guarantee democratic values in society," Wiriana said.

"Our present political structure is not favorable enough to the people's aspirations," he added. (amd)