House rebukes three members of PDI-P for rowdy behavior

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The House of Representatives disciplinary council on Tuesday reprimanded three Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) members for disrupting a March plenary session, but found House leaders not guilty.

The decision prompted PDI-P member Permadi to resign from the council, saying it discriminated against House members by failing to take action against the House leaders for their role in the incident.

Suparlan, Mangara Siahaan and Effendi Simbolon were proven guilty of sparking a commotion that marred the session held to determine the House's response to the government's decision to raise fuel prices. They will receive a written reprimand from the House council.

A group of lawmakers traded verbal insults and physical abuse during the session, after House leaders offered the floor a vote to determine the House's response to the fuel price hikes, even though most factions had already stated in their position statements that they were opposed to the government's policy.

Suparlan said the sanctions were unfair because members of other factions involved in the incident as well as House leaders were not punished at all.

He said the council should have taken action against House speaker Agung Laksono for his failure to properly preside over the session.

"He offered a vote to buy time as most factions had said in their respective views that they were opposed the controversial fuel policy," Suparlan said.

Several PDI-P lawmakers forced their way to where Agung's was sitting to protest what they perceived to be his failure to heed the factions' opinion. They said they had tried to convey their protests to the House but that their microphones had been turned off.

Suparlan said the disciplinary council paid a lot of attention to the behavior of the PDI-P lawmakers, but did not consider the reason for their behavior. "The council failed to look at the substance, which is more important than the incident," he said.

In the absence of the PDI-P and the National Awakening Party (PKB), the House finally agreed to accept the fuel price hikes.

Permadi announced his resignation as a council member to protest its reluctance to punish House leaders.

He said he did not take part in the council meeting that decided the penalty for the three PDI-P members.

"The council lacked wisdom in viewing the case. It did not question the way House leaders led the session," he said.

A lack of leadership should cost a House speaker his position in accordance with House standing orders.

He said he quit as a member of the disciplinary council because it had failed to maintain its independence.

"Why should I stay if the council is no longer independent and discriminates against House members," Permadi said.

The council is chaired by Slamet Effendy Yusuf from Golkar, the party that Agung Laksono serves as deputy chairman.