House revises autonomy law

House revises autonomy law

JAKARTA: The House of Representatives agreed on Monday during a
plenary session to revise the Law No. 22/1999 on regional
administration.

Spokespersons of the nine House factions said they hoped the
revision would strengthen the legitimacy of governors and
regents.

Legislator Zein Badjeber, who helped come up with the concept
for the draft revision, said legislators would revise the law to
pave the way for the direct election of governors and regents.

Zein, who chairs the House's Legislative Body, said he hoped
the first direct elections of governors and regents would take
place in October next year.

Akil Mochtar of Golkar said the direct election of governors
would help create more legitimate regional leaders.

He added that direct elections would also reduce the practice
of money politics among members of the Regional Legislative
Council (DPRD).

The plenary session was attended by 282 House members and
presided over by House Deputy Speaker Tosari Widjaja.

The government has also drafted a revision to the law, but its
draft has not yet been submitted to the House. -- JP

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Legislators protest plenary meeting
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Legislators protest plenary meeting

JAKARTA: A number of legislators attending a plenary meeting of
the House of Representatives on Monday protested the failure to
announce their proposal to revise Law No. 45/1999 on the division
of Papua into three provinces.

Usually, the House hears input on matters such as revising a
law at the opening of a plenary session.

Simon Patrice Morin of Golkar questioned House Deputy Speaker
Tosari Widjaja for not announcing the proposal to revise the law
on the division of Papua.

Citing the House's internal rules, fellow legislator Ruben
Gobay said all proposals submitted to the House must be announced
during a plenary meeting.

He said House leaders must have noticed the proposal from 30
legislators because it had been submitted last September.

A House staff member said he did not read out the proposal
because he had not received instructions to do so from House
leaders.

It was eventually agreed to hear the proposal at the next
plenary session.

Ruben said legislators who submitted the proposal to revise
the law were demanding that any separation or establishment of a
new administration entity refer to Law No. 21/2001 on special
autonomy for Papua.

Based on this law the establishment of a new province or
regency would require the approval of the Assembly of Papuan
People. -- JP

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Storm damages 83 houses, bridge
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Storm damages 83 houses, bridge

CIREBON: At least 83 homes were damaged and a bridge was
almost ruined when a storm hit the Cisaat Cangkuang village in
Babakan district on Monday. Fortunately only one resident was
injured as a result of the 10-minute storm around 4 p.m. Roads
were full of trees which had toppled, Antara reported.

Unlike the others, the injured resident, a 70-year old woman
named Ratmi, had not managed to escape out of the house.

High trees such as coconut and manggo trees were also cut down
to avoid more victims in the event of another storm. As of Monday
survivors had yet to receive any form of assistance. -- Reuters

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Review sought of Advocates Law
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Review sought of Advocates Law

JAKARTA: A bar association and nine lawyers filed on Monday a
petition for a judicial review of a number of articles of Law No.
18/2003 on the advocate's profession with the newly established
Constitutional Court.

The Indonesian Lawyers and Human Rights Defense Association
(APHI) and other plaintiffs objected to article 2 (1) of the law,
which allow graduates of military and police law schools to
pursue careers as lawyers.

APHI chairman Dorma Sinaga said the legislation contradicted
article 24 of the Constitution, which guaranteed a free and
independent judiciary.

"The graduates of military and police law schools only learn
about those aspects of our legal system that directly affect
them," he said after filing the petition.

The Constitutional Court has registered more than 15 requests
for judicial reviews of controversial legislation since its
establishment in mid-August. -- JP