Decree is best solution

Decree is best solution

From Rakyat Merdeka

Perhaps my support of President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid's insistence on issuing a decree declaring a state of emergency is controversial, but in my opinion this is the best way to put an end to the protracted conflict between the legislature and executive.

What is obvious is that the members of the House of Representatives are more concerned with their own interests. This explains why some bills such as the ones on labor protection and industrial conflict remain unfinished, as if they have been left unattended by the honorable House members.

The minister of manpower and transmigration, who should be the one protecting the workers, on the contrary seems to answer to the call of the businesspeople, fiercely fighting to retain the controversial ministerial decrees No. 78/2001 and No. 111/2001 on labor rights.

With regard to this matter, after 55 years of independence, workers all over Indonesia staged a large rally to protest the minister's stance. And also, for the first time in Indonesia's history, the minister of manpower was treated similarly by his own employees upset with his unfairness in assigning positions to employees. They felt he was prioritizing former employees from the ministry of transmigration.

It is crystal clear that the political elite in the legislative and executive bodies are reluctant to learn any lessons from the history of our nation; they never want to follow in the footsteps of the founders of this nation, such as Bung Karno, Bung Hatta and Bung Syahrir.

If the special session to be convened on Aug. 1 will only lead to a temporary political compromise, resulting in further confusion as the honorable members try to share power, it is tantamount to squandering money (Rp 30 billion).

Should Gus Dur step down and Megawati become president, this will not guarantee that the conflict will end. In my opinion, to resolve the conflict it would be much better if the President issued a decree which: 1. Disbanded the House of Representatives and the People's Consultative Assembly. 2. And called for another general election in six month's time.

HARTONO

Jakarta