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

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

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

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