DPR demands revision of water bill
Kurniawan Hari and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Leaders of the House of Representatives (DPR) have instructed legislators deliberating the water resource bill to make several revisions on some contentious articles, Deputy Speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno said on Tuesday.
He, however, did not say when the House leaders asked the legislators in charge to suspend the bill's deliberation and change the articles.
"The deliberation (of the water resource bill) must be suspended and lawmakers must get more input from the people," Soetardjo said on Tuesday.
He emphasized that the legislators should disseminate information on the substance of the bill to the public in order to improve the bill.
Revisions could be done on some articles in the bill that may contradict Article 33 of the newly amended 1945 Constitution.
"Water has a social function, so it must not be privatized," Soetardjo of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) said.
Earlier, chairman of the House's working committee for the bill deliberation, Erman Suparno, proposed that the committee stop the deliberation of the water resources bill indefinitely due to public protest, as well as conflicting interests among Cabinet ministries.
According to him, he would convey his proposal to the committee as soon as lawmakers resumed their session on Oct. 24.
The House is giving more time to hear the public's opinion and to allow the ministries to reach an agreement on the bill, said legislator Erman of the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction.
Several ministries involved in the bill deliberation such as the Ministry of Resettlements and Regional Infrastructure, the Ministry of Energy and Mining and the Ministry of Home Affairs have yet to agree on several issues, including on the use of both surface and underground water.
The public criticism has been particularly intense, resulting in violent clashes on Monday, over the bill due to the possible commercialization of water. There is fear in some quarters that profit may be put before people's needs and access to water.
Large groups of people, mostly farmers and non-governmental organizations have conducted a series of rallies protesting the bill.
At least 20 people were injured during a clash with police in Yogyakarta on Monday over the issue.
However, several legislators in charge of the bill said Tuesday that they were not informed about the House plan to postpone the deliberation of the bill.
"I only know it from the newspapers. What I know is that we will resume the deliberation immediately after the House convenes on Oct. 24," said Simon L. Himawan, the director of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) directorate of water resources and irrigation on Tuesday.
He explained that the working committee is slated to discuss several issues, including irrigation and permits to make use of water resource.
Another participant from the Ministry of Settlements and Regional Infrastructure concurred with Simon, saying that he had no idea there had been a postponement.
"I don't know a thing about that. We are supposed to resume the deliberation after the recess," said the high-ranking official who declined to be named.
His ministry has insisted that the bill be passed into law this year.
Meanwhile, legislator Erwin Pardede of the PDI Perjuangan, insisted that the working committee would resume the deliberation after Oct. 24.
"People may misunderstand Erman's statements. It is true that we are postponing the deliberation, but it is mainly due to the recess. It is not an indefinite postponement, " he said.
Erwin also seemed to be solidly opposed to any revision of the deliberated articles following the so-called public consultation and inter-department consultations.
"There should be no more revisions. The deliberated articles are the result of a consensus among committee members," he said.