House rebukes three members of PDI-P for rowdy behavior

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.