Factions set to endorse Assembly's draft decrees

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)