House gives low priority to draft political laws

House gives low priority to draft political laws

Muhammad Nafik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The House of Representatives insisted on Monday that the
deliberation of three long-awaited political bills would commence
at least late this month.

However, the draft laws -- the political party bill, the
election bill and the formation and position of the House and the
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) -- were not on the agenda
released by the House's Secretariat for discussion during the
next three-month session.

The legislature even failed to set a deadline as to when the
new bills should be passed into law.

Analysts have repeatedly warned the House and the government
that the delay in debating the bills could threaten the
preparations for the 2004 general election.

In his speech during Monday's opening session, Deputy House
Speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno emphasized the urgency of the
immediate debate on the draft laws.

"The revision of the (existing) political laws is very
important for the General Election Commission (KPU) to prepare
for the 2004 elections. Therefore, the government and the House
should soon discuss and complete the passage of the (three new)
political bills," he said.

In addition, Soetardjo said a new bill on the presidency would
also be deliberated soon "because the draft law is extremely
important and is closely related with the implementation of the
2004 elections."

Teras Narang, chairman of the House's Commission II dealing
with laws, justice and human rights, urged the government to
submit at least two of the bills to the legislature by the end of
May for deliberation.

The two draft laws in question are the political party bill
and the election bill, which were still with the Ministry of Home
Affairs.

Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno said last week the
government was prepared to file the bills in the near future, but
did not say when.

Constitutional law experts and political observers have
accused the government of deliberately buying time for its own
political interests and the interests of other ruling elite.

"In this case the government is making political
calculations," Satya Arinanto, a constitutional law expert at the
University of Indonesia, told The Jakarta Post.

Apart from the legislation program, the House will start
shortlisting 34 people, including Hendardi, Warda Hafidz and
Habib Hirzin, for membership of the National Commission on Human
Rights (Komnas HAM).

At the same time, it would also begin the required fit and
proper tests on the about 70 people whose names were put forward
as new supreme court justices.

Bills to be deliberated or passed into law: Labor guidance
and protection, Corruption eradication commission, Presidential
institution, Medical practice, Sports affairs, Bank loans,
Protection for children, Mechanism to enact law guidelines,
State finance, State treasury, Presidential pardon, Freedom to
obtain public information, Establishment of a Riau Islands
province, Creation of new regencies, Broadcasting bill, National
education, Settlement of industrial disputes, Electricity,
National knowledge and technology systems, Building, Advocate
profession, Property rights.