DPR told to limit political parties
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The alumni of the National Resilience Institute (Lemhannas) are calling on lawmakers to draft a law that limits the number of political parties in order to achieve political stability and security.
They are also calling for a cut in the number of factions at the House of Representatives (DPR) to allow quick and effective decision-making.
"Strategic steps should be taken to, among other things, group political parties by similarities in their political platform, and enact a law limiting the number of political parties," they said in a document submitted to House leaders on Friday.
Lemhannas alumni chairman Agum Gumelar said the same document would be submitted to President Megawati Soekarnoputri.
Over 250 political parties have registered with the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights to participate in the 2004 general election, when the country is expected to hold its first ever direct presidential election.
Given the number, experts and political analysts have expressed fear that the 2004 presidential election will fail to produce a legitimate government.
Agum said that limiting the number of political parties would ensure that there would be only one majority winner in the 2004 general election, a condition required to produce stability in the political, economic and security sectors.
The recommendations were outlined in a 20-page booklet presented by the chairman of the Lemhannas alumni, Agum Gumelar, to House Speaker Akbar Tandjung at a hearing on Friday.
Also present at the hearing were Lemhannas alumni members Burhanuddin Napitupulu, Parni Hadi, Rosita Noer, Gunawan Sumodiningrat and Rully Chairul Azwar.
Akbar was accompanied by his deputies Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno, Muhaimin Iskandar and A.M. Fatwa. Legislators Ibrahim Ambong and Astrid Susanto also attended the hearing.
Lemhannas also suggested that the number of factions in the House of Representatives (DPR) had to be downsized so that the decision-making process at the House would be quicker.
According to Lemhannas, the political interests of each faction at the House had made enactments unacceptable.
Mounting public disappointment had also created social distrust, the report said.
The institute, which gained credibility during Soeharto's administration, suggested that the selection of state officials by the House and the selection of a governor and regent by the local legislatures be suspended to avoid money politics.
Lemhannas suggested that the national leader appoint caretakers to work until the 2004 election.
In the defense and security sectors, the institute was concerned about unsettled sectarian conflicts in some regions and the presence of separatist movements in Aceh, Papua and Maluku.
In an attempt to lure back foreign investors, Lemhannas suggested that the government issue incentives to investors. In addition, the government has to also uphold law enforcement and political stability, the institute said.
As for the efforts to terminate separatist movements in Aceh, Papua and Maluku, Lemhannas recommended that the government take strict action.
In response to the recommendation, House Speaker Akbar Tandjung said that the lawmakers would use the booklet as a reference for their duties.
"We agree with the recommendations from Lemhannas. We have a responsibility to empower the legislature," said Akbar.