Factions set to endorse Assembly's draft decrees

JAKARTA (JP): All factions in the People's Consultative Assembly gave an initial agreement to nine draft decrees proposed by the working committee on Saturday.

The factions also agreed to form four commissions assigned to finalize the drafts, which include constitutional amendments, State Policy Guidelines, the revocation of a 1978 decree on East Timor and Assembly internal rules.

There was unanimous approval from the 11 factions to revoke the 1978 decree making East Timor the country's 27th province, after 78.5 percent of voters in the Aug. 30 self-determination ballot in the former Portuguese colony rejected Indonesia's offer of wide-ranging autonomy.

"For the sake of our recognition of human rights, we will let go of East Timor despite our disenchantment," Golkar said in its statement read by Immanuel Blegur.

The United Development faction said Indonesia had no other choice but to accept the result of the ballot, unless it was prepared to face international condemnation.

But all the factions suggested that the decree be endorsed only after Portugal amended its Constitution, which places East Timor under Portuguese sovereignty. They also agreed to take note of irregularities in the popular consultation held under the supervision of the United Nations.

The Golkar and Reform factions specifically recommended that the Assembly pay greater attention to Aceh and Irian Jaya, where separatist movements have been rife due to the unfair sharing of revenue from natural resources and instances of human rights abuses.

On the presidential election, the United Development faction and the National Awakening faction suggested that the selection be held in stages. They said a president should be elected through a vote, with a simple majority needed to win the top executive post.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle faction supported the notion of a vote to elect a president, but insisted that the Assembly deliberate to reach consensus on the matter.

In its statement read by Ahmad Farhan Hamid, the Reform faction suggested that soon after the General Session, the Assembly working committee shortlist deliberations on general elections, national reconciliation, the new role of the military, procedures of the presidential accountability speech and a special ruling to anticipate the resignation of a president or a vice president.

The Assembly members will be divided on Sunday into four commissions in charge of State Policy Guidelines, draft decrees other than the State Policy Guidelines, constitutional amendments and the presidential accountability report. The commissions will present the outcome of their deliberations on Tuesday. (02/05)