House to prioritize bills related to democracy, justice

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Many of the bills relating to efforts to develop a more democratic political system and a strong judicial system will be put on top of the House of Representatives (DPR)'s legislative agenda, legislators say.

House Legislative Body (Baleg) deputy chairwoman Dwi Ria Latifa said over the weekend that lawmakers had made a priority list to enable them to come up with quality laws.

"Without making a priority list, lawmakers will work haphazardly and produce less quality laws," she told The Jakarta Post here on Saturday.

Dwi Ria from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) added that developing democracy and strengthening the judicial system have been mandated by the Constitution.

Fellow Baleg member Agun Gunandjar Sudarsa of the Golkar Party concurred with Dwi Ria, saying that the House had to discuss the priority list with Cabinet members.

Amendments to the Constitution have resulted in better democratization in the country. The amendments, for example, have adopted a direct presidential election, replacing the 50-year-old system wherein a handful of legislators elected the president.

The newly amended Constitution also mandates the establishment of the Constitutional Court which, along with the Supreme Court, will function as the highest judicial institution.

Given all that, Agun said that lawmakers must continue to pass necessary legislation to support the Constitution by completing the bills currently before them.

He singled out Law No. 22/1999 on Regional Administrations, which needed to be revised to insert articles on direct elections for governors and regents.

"The amended Constitution calls for the adoption of direct elections for governors and regents," he said, referring to Article 18 (4) of the Constitution.

Agun added that the House would also put the bills on the Presidency, the Cabinet, the revisions of laws on the Public Court, the State Administrative Court and the Attorney General's Office as priorities.

Baleg spokespersons have said the revisions of those three laws would be completed on Feb. 26, 2004.

He said that lawmakers would also discuss the bill on a judicial commission, which is meant to ensure fair and transparent recruitment of judges.

Although the legislators have already found much common ground on the bills included on the priority list, there is still doubt that the House will be able to finish in such a limited time, given this House's track record in recent years.

Dwi Ria suggested that legislators should focus on prioritized bills in an attempt to produce quality laws. She said that the approaching elections could hamper the process, because many legislators may choose to skip out on deliberations to campaign for their own reelection.

Agun added that if the legislators could not finish the bills, the unfinished ones would be dealt with during the next sitting session.

House Speaker Akbar Tandjung has set a target of completing 46 bills in the current 35-day session. Those bills, however, do not include another 10 still being prepared by Baleg. Those are on territorial borders, teachers, criminalizing certain personal sexual habits, regional taxation and fees, mass organizations, small islands and coastal areas management, extradition, regional enterprises, youth matters and environmental management.

Status of the Bills

No. Bills Quantity

1. Bills drafted by the government 15

2. Bills drafted by the House, but not yet submitted to the President 11

3. Bills drafted by the House, but still at State Secretariat 14

4. Bills drafted by the House and in process of deliberation 6

5. Bills in process at the House 10

Total 56

Source: Baleg