DPR demands revision of water bill
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.