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