House looking for more control in foreign affairs
House looking for more control in foreign affairs
JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives is seeking a
greater say in foreign affairs by demanding the government first
seek its approval before committing to any international
agreement.
In the hearing with Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab on Monday,
eight factions in the of the House demanded every international
agreement be brought to the House before being executed by the
government.
"House approval is needed to avoid the House rejecting an
international agreement after already being signed by the
government," Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) spokesman Nuah Torong said during the plenary session
of the international agreements bill which was submitted by the
government last week.
The House's request means that there would be significant
changes in the bill presented by the government.
Torong said that consideration by the House was essential to
avoid a recurrence of incidents such as East Timor and the recent
accord with the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).
He said his faction also asked the government to seek
preliminary House approval before making international loan
agreements. A consideration not addressed in the bill.
United Development Party (PPP) spokeswoman Aisyah Amini
supported PDI Perjuangan's proposal.
She said her faction suggested international loan agreements
between private sectors and international parties also be
endorsed by the House.
She argued that so far international loans for the private
sector were larger than similar loans to the government.
"The bill is incomprehensive and has many weaknesses," Aisyah
said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted the draft bill on
international agreements to the House last week. The draft
provides general guidelines of Indonesia's rights and obligations
in every international agreement.
In Law No. 37/1999 on International Affairs, issued on Sept.
14, 1999, only the minister of foreign affairs needs to be
consulted for any international agreement signed by Indonesian
parties.
Commenting on the House factions' objections, Foreign Minister
Alwi Shihab said the bill remains very much open to change.
"All the factions' suggestions can be accommodated as long as
it is for the nation's interest," Alwi told reporters after the
session.
He said the exclusion of House approval in the initial signing
of bills was merely based on practical reasons.
Recent Constitutional amendments have given the House a
greater say in various international matters, such as oversight
on the appointment and acceptance of diplomatic representatives.
However, in the past six months there have been several
complaints about the lengthy nature of the proceedings.
Several staff at the Foreign Ministry told The Jakarta Post
that they have received several complaints about the snail's pace
of procedures going through the House, even for proposing the
name of a new ambassador.
"The process can take up to four months, whereas usually if
there is no word within two months it could be interpreted as
rejection of the foreign representative," a foreign ministry
official remarked. (jun/dja)