Christian students are calling for political reform

Christian students are calling for political reform

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Christian Students Movement is calling for political reform to allow public participation in both political and economic activities.

The movement says the changes in the political system must be introduced in phases to avoid upheavals that could bring undesired consequences.

The proposal made available to the press yesterday was only one of the recommendations issued at the conclusion of the movement's latest national congress in Ciawi, 60 kilometers south of here. The congress lasted from Feb. 9 to Feb. 15.

Various political experts and activists addressed the week- long congress that brought together 250 members from across the country. The students used the occasion to commemorate the organization's 45th anniversary.

The statement signed by the movement's chairman, Immanuel E. Blegur, said that despite the various successes in economic development over the past 25 years, the people remain largely deprived of their political rights.

Besides that, the gulf between the rich and the poor is widening because only a few groups are benefiting from the state's economic policies and human rights abuses are rife, Blegur said.

Political reform is needed to maintain national unity and achieve a just and democratic society," he said.

He emphasized that the reform must be constitutional, constructive and gradual.

"The Christian Students Movement does not want a revolution through bloodshed or any other means that can threaten the nation's unity," he said. "The reform should aim at reinstating the people's political and economic rights."

The movement also supports proposals that the number of terms a president can serve should be limited to two in order to enable smooth succession of the top national leadership.

"A governor's term is limited to two, so why not the president's?" Blegur said.

The limitation of the number of terms of office a president can serve was a matter of national debate prior to the 1992 general election, when the chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party proposed that the number be limited to two.

The 1945 Constitution states that a president must serve for five years and "can be re-elected" without making it clear how many times he can be returned to office.

Blegur argued that now is the right time for politicians to debate the need for limiting the number of terms because the nation will review the Guidelines of State Policy ahead of the upcoming presidential election in 1998.

The movement also criticized the executive branch of the government for its habit of making decisions without consulting the House of Representatives.

"The executive body has frequently acted beyond its authority by taking up the tasks of the House of Representatives and the People's Consultative Assembly, such as formulating draft laws," he said.

The movement advised that the Armed Forces should remain neutral and not meddle in the internal affairs of political parties.

Immanuel said the movement did not object to the Armed Force's dual function in defense and politics, but said the military should never take sides with any political organization.

"Armed forces everywhere in the world are neutral and they stand above all groups. The Indonesian Armed Force's favoring of a certain political organization will affect the development of democracy," he said. (rms)