Bill on politics

Bill on politics

From Media Indonesia

As a fraction of the Indonesian society, however small, the Indonesian Women Scholars Association (ISWI) feels obliged to extend some comments concerning the bill on politics.

First, ISWI is of the opinion that civil servants (PNS) should not become members/executives of political parties. It is true that as Indonesian citizens, PNS have the right to join an organization (political or nonpolitical), however, their position as a public institution is subject to some limitation:

* PNS still have their right to vote.

* If a civil servant is nominated as candidate for a representative by a political party and is elected, then he/she should take a leave without pay, and all his/her rights and responsibilities as a civil servant be suspended during the political term of office.

Second, ISWI is against the idea of a floating mass. Any citizen who is not linked to special regulation in the context of his/her position as a member of a public institution, such as PNS or the Armed Forces (ABRI), has the right to join an association in line with Article 28 of the 1945 Constitution.

Third, the new political law (the bill still under debate) should abolish the establishment of an advisory institution, which provides administrative or technical guidance to political parties or mass organizations, the job of which is held by a minister or other government official, both at the central and provincial levels. Such an institution is highly contradictory to autonomy of political parties and/or mass organizations, and also against the rights to associate. Past experience has shown that the existence of the advisory institution would open the opportunity for the (government) institution to interfere with the internal affairs of the political parties or organizations

Fourth, ISWI views that the number of ABRI representatives in the House of Representatives, People's Consultative Assembly and provincial legislative councils needs to be reduced in conformity with the reform spirit.

SUWARNI SALYO, (Chairperson)

SRIYATOEN HADIMARTONO, (Secretary)

ISWI, Jakarta