Assembly to vote on constitutional amendment

JAKARTA (JP): The General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly will likely have to vote on constitutional amendments on the issue of a direct presidential election and the general election system as committees have failed to reach a consensus on the contentious items.

Slamet Effendy Yusuf, who chaired the Adhoc Committee for constitutional amendments, admitted at the end of meetings on Wednesday that no agreement had been reached on the issues.

Apart from those two issues, the question of the Assembly's composition is another subject which will likely go to a vote.

"We hope that the formulation of the alternatives for these amendment can be completed by mid-July," Slamet, a Golkar Party legislator, said, stressing that the available options should also be familiarized to the public before the start of the General Session, scheduled for Aug. 7.

Amendments must have the support of two-thirds of the 700- member Assembly to be passed.

On presidential elections, the 1999 poll winner, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), is the main party holding back from a direct presidential election.

Currently, the president and vice president are elected by the Assembly.

Slamet said there were alternative suggestions: that two presidential candidates could first be chosen by the Assembly before allowing the people to choose between the two.

Meanwhile, on the general election system, Assembly members seem at odds on the means in which a House or Assembly member is elected.

On the question of the Assembly's composition, a majority of the factions seem to favor that it comprise only of House of Representative members and regional representatives.

"But some factions are still insistent that the Indonesian Military (TNI)/Police be given seats in the Assembly," Slamet explained.

Among the amendments that have been agreed upon is an insertion of a chapter on human rights and a free and fair general election.

The chapter on human rights acknowledges universal principles but also their uniqueness to situations in Indonesia. (jun)