Factions reject NGOs' proposal on commission

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)