Govt factions dismiss fear of authoritarianism

Govt factions dismiss fear of authoritarianism

JAKARTA (JP): Three factions in favor of a motion to grant the
next president extra power strove yesterday to appease some
people's concern that it would lead to authoritarianism.

Dominant Golkar, which initiated the campaign, and its
traditional allies, the Armed Forces and regional representatives
factions, reiterated yesterday their support for a People's
Consultative Assembly decree that will allow the president to
take emergency measures when national unity and development
programs are endangered.

While the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) faction finally
gave its approval yesterday, fellow minority faction the United
Development Party (PPP) remains the last hurdle in Golkar's plan.

The Moslem-based faction has said it would agree to Golkar's
draft only if it was incorporated in the State Policy Guidelines,
rather than a separate MPR decree.

Golkar spokesman Slamet Effendy Yusuf told an Assembly ad hoc
committee session that even with the decree the president could
not exercise the authority arbitrarily.

"We expect that everything will go through democratic means
and the (establishment) of a democratic society requires that all
dynamics run ... (in accordance to) national consensus," Slamet
said.

He said excessive worry about as yet unforeseeable situations
that could endanger the country was not behind Golkar's bid for
the draft. Instead, he said, the dominant political group offered
an anticipative measure.

"Disturbances, let alone those occurring in such a
heterogeneous society (as Indonesia) ... will not be conducive
for democracy to blossom," he said.

Armed Forces faction spokesman, Achmad Roestandi, said the
draft decree stipulates conditions that a president must fulfill
before exercising extra power.

"The president must first consult the House of
Representatives, and he or she must deliver his or her
accountability to the Assembly," Roestandi said.

He said the extra authority, should the proposed decree be
accepted, was by no means a recommendation for the president to
declare a state of emergency for the country.

PDI had previously opposed the motion but made an about face
yesterday. Its spokesman Ismunandar said the reinstatement of the
Assembly decree, after five years in slumber, should not harm
Indonesia's international image and cause capital flight or
frighten foreign investors.

The decree was introduced in 1966 by the Provisional Assembly
and was renewed in each of the previous five-yearly general
sessions of the Assembly since 1973.

PPP spokesman Zein Badjeber said the faction rejected the
concerted plan to establish a separate decree on extra
presidential power.

"We understand this decree is very important, but let's not
separate the extra authority from another presidential job to
implement the State Policy Guidelines," he said. (amd)