House leaders differ over broadcasting bill changes
House leaders differ over broadcasting bill changes
JAKARTA (JP): There were signs of disagreement yesterday
between the speaker and deputy speaker in the House of
Representatives in relation to an unprecedented second
deliberation of the broadcasting bill, which is scheduled to
begin on Aug. 25.
Shortly after House Speaker Wahono told a plenary session that
the House had accepted the government's demand for amendments to
the bill, Deputy House Speaker Soerjadi expressed regret over the
previously unheard-of chain of events.
"We have thoroughly deliberated the bill, reached agreement
and had the bill signed -- only to have it returned to us," said
Soerjadi, who also chairs the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).
"The decision to return the bill to the House has shown that
the government lacks trust in our strenuous efforts," he added.
President Soeharto has refused to sign the bill, which was
passed by the House last December because of a number of
problematic articles.
R. Hartono, the new minister of information, has said that the
amendments now sought may include stipulations on national
broadcasters' coverage, license terms and the dubbing of foreign
programs.
The bill's re-deliberation was originally scheduled to start
on Thursday, but was postponed because Hartono had a more
pressing commitment. The new schedule stretches over one month
because of a House recess from next Monday until Aug. 15.
A special 21-member committee has been appointed by the House
in relation to the re-deliberation, but Soerjadi stressed that
the committee's task was limited to preparing an agenda for a
second deliberation -- not to agreeing to the amendments sought
by the government.
"The decision to endorse or reject the amendments will be
taken during the deliberation," he said. "How can we approve it
if we do not know yet which articles need amending?"
Hartono said the second deliberation could be completed before
the end of the House's current term on Sept. 30.
Wahono said the House welcomed the government's request for a
re-deliberation of the bill "for the sake of the national
interest."
"On one hand, this uncommon course of events has provided both
the government and the House with a lesson in the importance of
paying greater attention to the core content of bills.
"But, on the other hand, we have unquestionably gained greater
experience, proving our sufficient maturity in performing our
constitutional duties," Wahono said.
He added that the need for a second deliberation had given
rise to a new procedure in the legislative process.
The Constitution provides that the President may make laws
with the consent of the House. In the three decades of the New
Order period, the House has never failed to pass a bill proposed
by the government.
Senior constitutional lawyer Sri Soemantri said the second
deliberation lacked a basis in law and suggested that the
government should give effect to the broadcasting bill as it
stands and then propose an amending bill.
However, another constitutional expert, Yusril Ihza Mahendra,
said there was nothing wrong with a second deliberation, since a
bill cannot be enacted without the approval of both the
government and the House. (amd)