Factions want bill deliberation open to public

Factions want bill deliberation open to public

JAKARTA (JP): In response to recent criticism, factions at the
House of Representatives passed a motion on Wednesday to have its
Working Committee deliberate the political bills in open session.

Djufrie Asmoredjo of the United Development Party (PPP) said
his faction agreed to have the sessions open to the public so
progress or lack of it could be monitored directly.

"That is no problem, as we are ready to deliberate the bills
in open session," he told The Jakarta Post during a break in the
deliberation here on Wednesday.

Many people have criticized the House Working Committee for
the closed deliberations of crucial issues in the bills that will
lay the groundwork for the nation's political agenda including
the general election and the presidential election next year.

According to the House's internal rulings, leadership meetings
and working committee sessions are closed to the public.

Deliberations on the political laws before talks entered
working committees were open but outsiders were only allowed
observer status.

A number of crucial issues, over which the factions failed to
agree during the House's Special Committee session last week,
were left to be discussed by the working committee. Among those
issues are the political rights of civil servants, the presence
of the Armed Forces in the House, the electoral system and the
schedule for the presidential election.

The Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) and Armed Forces (ABRI)
factions shared the opinion of the PPP, saying they, too, would
agree to open sessions.

"We understand that many people, including members of new
political parties not involved in the deliberation, wish to
monitor progress," Suyanto of PDI said.

The major Golkar faction, however, was divided over the issue.

Aminullah Ibrahim, chairman of the House's working committee
on general election, said all factions should comply with the
House's internal rulings, including one that said the working
committee's sessions are closed to the public.

"However, despite the internal rulings, we hope a new policy
on the working committee's sessions will be formulated tomorrow,"
he said without elaborating.

Meanwhile, the government regretted on Wednesday the House's
decision to no longer involve representatives of groups in
society in the National Election Committee (KPU) which would be
in charge of running the next general election.

Ryaas Rasyid, the Ministry of Home Affairs official in charge
of drafting the political bills, said: "We have repeatedly told
the House Special Commission and Working Committee about the
necessary presence of a neutral group from society in the
election committee. We could do nothing when the House rejected
this idea."

Wiyanjono of PDI said his minority faction supported the
government's idea but was outvoted by the other factions.

The Golkar faction defended its stand, citing an MPR decree on
the general election which stipulates that the committee's
membership comprises representatives of the government and
political parties contesting the election.

The PPP faction did not want representatives of social groups
in the committee for fear that they would be handpicked by the
government.

Aminullah said with the new agreement, the general election
would be run by a national committee whose membership includes
political parties and the government, which would function as a
facilitator. (rms)