Govt to submit political bills to House this week

Govt to submit political bills to House this week

JAKARTA (JP): The government is to submit three draft
political laws, including the bill on general elections, to the
House of Representatives (DPR) this week -- one month later than
its original schedule, a minister disclosed on Monday.

Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung denied the government
had intentionally delayed the presentation of the bills for its
own vested interests. He said the delay was merely caused by
technical glitches.

"The government has from the beginning been committed to
implementing the agreement reached between the government and the
House (to produce the political laws)," Akbar said after meeting
with President B.J. Habibie at the Bina Graha presidential
office. The other two drafts are on the function and composition
of the House, the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and
regional legislative councils (DPRD); and on political parties.

In a meeting with the country's chief editors in June, Habibie
said the drafting of the bills, coordinated by the Ministry of
Home Affairs, would be completed in August.

He also promised to widely distribute the drafts to the public
before submitting them to the House, saying the government would
also give the public one month to raise objections or make
suggestions. Akbar, who is also the chairman of the dominant
Golkar party, however, indicated the government would now submit
the bills straight to the House.

"People can convey their aspirations through the factions
during the official deliberation process," said Akbar.

He added the electoral system will be a proportional district
system, and the DPR will comprise 550 members, or up 50 from the
current House. Under the new legislation, 210 of the seats will
be elected from districts in Java and Bali, and another 210 from
outside the two above islands.

The Armed Forces (ABRI) will be allocated 55 seats, down from
its current number of 75. Active ABRI members do not vote.

"The remaining 75 will be allotted (to community groups) on a
proportional basis," Akbar said.

A Ministry of Home Affairs official recently said the People's
Consultative Assembly would have 700 seats -- the 550 DPR
members, 81 representatives from the regions, with each of the 27
provinces having three representatives; and 69 group
representatives.

In previous elections, civil servants and family members of
ABRI were obligated to vote for Golkar. Next year, they will be
free to vote as they wish. About 80 new political parties have
already been formed since former president Suharto resigned.

Minister of Education and Culture Juwono Sudarsono said civil
servants, including university professors and lecturers, under
his ministry were free to vote for any party. However according
to the government employee regulations, they should temporarily
resign from their posts if they joined a political party's
executive board, Juwono said in a hearing with Commission VII
which oversees education, religious affairs, health and sports.

"If they're only supporting the parties, of course, they do
not have to quit," he said, adding that university lecturers
should not mix teaching with political activities.

"However, they can resume teaching after they leave the
political arena," he said. The regulation will be strictly
enforced in January next year after the government's announcement
on the names of the election's contestants, Juwono said. (prb/01)