Government confirms political reform agenda
Government confirms political reform agenda
JAKARTA (JP): The government confirmed yesterday the schedule
for its political reform agenda, to peak in December next year
with the election of a new president and vice president.
A meeting of Cabinet members under Coordinating Minister for
Political and Security Affairs Feisal Tanjung decided that it was
necessary to publicize the political agenda to give greater
political certainty to the public, including foreign investors.
"This political certainty is essential for the public and for
international relations," according to a statement issued after
the meeting.
The government pledged to respect principles guiding
international economic relations, which include guarantees of the
safety for local and foreign entrepreneurs.
"The meeting held the opinion that foreign investors should no
longer hesitate in bringing their capital to Indonesia," it said.
Many local and foreign investors have left Indonesia in recent
months because of the political turmoil. Few have since returned
despite the change of government.
The meeting unveiled the following schedule:
* By December 1998: Revise three political laws -- on
elections, on the composition of the House of Representatives and
the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), and on political
parties.
* December 1998: Convene an extraordinary session of the MPR
to set a date for general elections.
* January 1998: Enact the three political laws.
* January 1998 to mid 1999: Socialize the new political laws,
form and endorse new political parties, and prepare for general
elections.
* Mid 1999: General elections
* December 1999: Convene an MPR meeting to draw up the State
Policy Guidelines and elect a president and vice president.
The meeting said the reform process required time but that the
government took into account both its urgency and the need to
observe the constitutional process in drawing up the schedule.
The meeting also underscored the work underway to review and
improve various legislation, including the laws on subversion,
corruption, press and broadcasting, monopoly and competition, and
ratification of the United Nations' conventions against racial
discrimination and torture. (emb)