Factions reject NGOs' proposal on commission
JAKARTA (JP): Most factions in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) turned down on Thursday the proposal advanced by NGOs for the establishment of an independent constitutional commission.
The proposal was rejected based on the grounds that it would conflict with the MPR's power to amend the Constitution.
The National Awakening Party (PKB) was the only faction that came out in support of the proposal.
Yusuf Muhammad, chairman of the PKB faction, commended the NGO's proposal, saying that his faction was considering the possibility of bringing it before the working committee's next plenary session.
"The MPR should not be allergic to the NGOs because they have also played an important role in launching the reform movement and have contributed to the upholding of democracy in this country. Why is the Assembly allergic to good ideas and the vision of bringing about a comprehensive amendment of the constitution?," he said.
An alliance of NGOs had earlier demanded the establishment of an independent commission with full authority to comprehensively amend the Constitution. According to the NGOs, the commission should consist of various elements in society, including experts, religious figures and informal leaders.
The factions representing the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Golkar Party (Golkar), United Development Party, Reform and Societal Group asserted that the sole authority to amend the constitution or to draft a new constitution was in the hands of the Assembly. This authority could not be delegated to other parties, including non- governmental organizations.
Hobbes Sinaga, spokesman for PDI Perjuangan, said it was impossible for the MPR's working committee to subcontract the duties it was required to perform by the Constitution to other parties, including the NGOs.
"We will never take the NGOs' proposal into consideration because besides being against the Constitution, it is not applicable and is ineffective. Moreover our faction has also made its own proposal for the establishment of a commission subordinated to the working committee to bring it into line with the Constitution," he said on Thursday.
He further explained that despite being much criticized, the PDI Perjuangan faction would go ahead with its plan to bring its proposal to the attention of the working committee's next plenary session before bringing it before the Assembly's annual session in November.
"If the proposal gains no support from the working committee, we will bring it directly to the annual session for deliberation," he added.
According to the PDI Perjuangan proposal, the constitutional commission, which would consist of experts and religious figures and would be subordinate to the working committee, would be responsible for formulating fundamental principles of the Constitution for approval by the working committee.
Jacob Tobing, chairman of the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on the amendment of the Constitution, denied accusations that the factions on the subcommittee were only interested in pursuing their own political interests as regards the amendment of the Constitution.
"So far, 30 experts from various disciplines have been involved in the amendment process and not a single faction has tried to force its will and its political interests. The amendment process is slow because of differing perspectives on various matters in the Constitution," he said.
Theo Sambuaga, spokesman for the Golkar faction, said the NGOs' proposal was inapplicable and ineffective.
"Besides being against the Constitution, it would be very difficult to recruit members of the independent commission," he said.
Patrialis Akbar of the Reform faction and Lukman Sjaifuddin of the United Development Party (PPP) faction echoed Theo's remarks, saying that the Working Committee should continue its work and draft the necessary amendments by 2002. (rms)