DPR empowers itself with subpoena rights

DPR empowers itself with subpoena rights

JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives (DPR) on Thursday
decided to give itself the right to subpoena citizens, including
the president, and to impose one year prison sentences on those
who fail to meet its summons.

The House entered a clause covering the issue into the
government-sponsored bill on the structure of the country's
legislatures that it is currently deliberating.

"Government officials (including the president) and private
citizens are included in the clause," legislator Budi Harsono
said after emerging from a session deliberating the bill.

He said the sanction would be carefully exercised.

"Only failures to meet subpoenas which concern state interests
will be sanctioned," said Budi from the Armed Forces (ABRI)
faction.

The sanction would be exercised in accordance with existing
legal procedures in which the DPR -- through its commissions --
is entitled to lodge complaints with the courts, he said.

The DPR's right to subpoena is currently only stated in its
internal rules, which are not binding to parties outside the
House.

According to the 1945 Constitution, the House has six rights:
to submit inquiries to the president, to investigate, to amend
draft laws, to initiate draft laws, to query and to air opinions,
and to nominate people for certain government positions.

The bill -- scheduled to be passed on Jan. 12 along with the
bill on political parties -- will also give the House the right
to draft its own budget and internal rules.

Also agreed upon during Thursday's deliberation session were
stipulations on the responsibilities and authority of provincial
and local legislatures (DPRD) and rules governing the conduct of
members of all the country's legislatures, Budi said.

Budi said the factions had agreed to spell out the authority
and responsibilities of the DPRDs in the new law on the structure
of the country's legislatures.

DPRDs are currently governed by the 1974 law on provincial
administrations, which states that DPRDs are part of provincial
administrations.

DPRDs would be accorded rights similar to the DPR, Budi said.

For instance, a provincial DPRD would have the right to
suggest appointing or dismissing a governor, with the president
only responsible for ceremonial aspects of the process.

Regency level DPRDs would be entitled to directly appoint
regents, with the president again restricted to a ceremonial
role, Budi added. (aan)