Golkar, ABRI push for extra presidential power
Golkar, ABRI push for extra presidential power
JAKARTA (JP): The dominant Golkar and its main ally, the Armed
Forces, are to ask the People's Consultative Assembly to pass a
decree that will give extra powers to the next president.
The two guaranteed yesterday that the implementation of the
decree would follow legal procedures and not infringe on human
rights or democracy.
Deputy Golkar faction chairman Akbar Tanjung claimed the
decree, to be revived after a five-year lapse, was not intended
to crush criticism of the government but to prevent subversion.
"Government critics should not worry about the decree, because
it is aimed at allowing the president to take necessary measures
to safeguard the continuation of development programs," Akbar
said on the sidelines of the Assembly session.
The Assembly will deliberate the draft of the decree from
tomorrow through Monday.
He added that the extra power would only target certain groups
or individuals who were seeking to undermine the state.
"The decree will be applied in accordance with the laws. Don't
be too anxious, because the president will always stick to the
Constitution," Akbar said, in obvious reference to President
Soeharto whose reelection by the Assembly is almost certain.
Golkar sponsored the draft of the decree during the Assembly's
preliminary session in November last year, with the full support
of the Armed Forces and the regional representatives factions.
After initial reluctance the minority United Development Party
(PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) followed suit.
The revival of the decree was suggested by President Soeharto
in his briefing of 500 legislative candidates at the Bogor
presidential palace in West Java in August last year.
Such a decree was first passed by the provisional Assembly in
1966 to allow then acting president Soeharto to restore order
following an abortive coup attempt blamed on the Indonesian
Communist Party the previous year.
The Assembly retained the decree in the next four General
Sessions in 1973, 1978, 1983 and 1988, but it was never applied.
The congress neither renewed nor abolished it five years ago in
its 1993 General Session.
According to the Golkar draft, the president must consult the
House of Representatives before exercising the power. He or she
must include the execution of the power in his or her
accountability speech before the Assembly.
Akbar said that should the decree be passed, it would only be
effective until 2003 and subject to the Assembly's evaluation.
He dismissed the suggestion that a law be made to guide the
implementation of the decree.
Deputy Golkar secretary Moestahid Astari said the faction did
not expect any situation to develop within the next five years
when the decree would be needed.
"We are facing tougher challenges that may pose a threat to
our development programs. A constitutional means, which enables
the president to take immediate actions, is needed," he said.
He said the decree would be granted to the presidency, rather
than any person who holds the top post.
"That's why the decree, if it is endorsed, cannot be handed
over to other people, including the vice president," he said.
Armed Forces legislator Lt. Gen. Hari Sabarno said the decree
would not violate the 1945 Constitution which already equips the
president with the authority to take preemptive measures.
"We want the Assembly to pass the decree for practical
reasons, because the Constitution does not adequately elaborate
on how the president should exercise the power," said Hari, who
also heads the Armed Forces faction in the House.
He said the draft decree provided clear procedures on how the
president was to exercise the extra authority.
In addition to executive power, the president also holds
legislative and judicial power, according to the Constitution. He
or she is allowed to make laws and grant clemency to people
serving sentences. (imn/amd)