Indonesian Military to leave DPR in 2004

JAKARTA (JP): A special team drafting the decree on State Policy Guidelines agreed to scrap the Indonesian Military's 38 uncontested seats in the House of Representatives (DPR) as of 2004.

Alimarwan Hanan of the United Development Party (PPP) faction said the Indonesian Military (TNI) faction member in the team had thrown his support behind the decision.

The TNI faction was represented by Maj. Gen. Tayo Tarmadi in the 10-strong Team A of the Ad Hoc Subcommittee I, deliberating the draft decree on State Policy Guidelines.

The team, however, agreed that the military and the National Police, as a component of the nation, should still be given seats at the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to allow them to take part in making decisions which are vital to the nation's future, Alimarwan said.

"All components of the nation are obliged and entitled to take part in formulating the nation's policy guidelines. The military, as a part of the nation, has a right to help determine the nation's future," he said.

Those serving in the Indonesian Military and the National Police force are forbidden to take part in the general elections. However, they are allocated seats in the House.

The number of seats allocated has varied with each House tenure. Prior to the current House, they were allocated 100 seats. The current number of 38 seats in the 500-member House was the lowest during the New Order era.

Most factions in the team initially proposed that the military be denied from occupying uncontested seats in either the House or the Assembly.

Not surprisingly, the proposal met with the strongest objection from the Military/National Police faction.

The PPP faction came out with an alternative proposal of allowing seats for the military only at the Assembly.

"Tayo later said PPP's proposal is a better alternative," Alimawarwan said, adding that other factions later accepted PPP's proposal after some lobbying.

For decades, the military and National Police have enjoyed their dual function by playing an active role in politics.

Following the demise of former president Soeharto and the birth of the reform era, the military reorganized itself to return to its defense function. In its repositioning, the TNI has agreed to phase out its direct role in political affairs in an effort to improve its tarnished image.

Alimarwan said the State Policy Guidelines being drafted still forbids the military and police to participate in the elections.

The military and police in Indonesian political vocabulary are considered stabilizers, in which their absence from elections will ensure neutrality by not supporting any one particular party.

Drafts

Meanwhile, Ad Hoc subcommittees made their final touches to numerous draft decrees to be brought to the Working Committee's plenary session on Thursday.

Ad Hoc Subcommittee II prepared the draft decrees on the presidential and vice presidential election and another one on East Timor, while Ad Hoc Committee III prepared the draft decree on amendments to the 1945 Constitution.

Factions in the Ad Hoc Subcommittee II were in general agreement that the 1978 Assembly decree on East Timor's integration with Indonesia should be revoked. However, they were still divided over the conditions for the revocation.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction set three conditions for the decree's repeal, while other factions expressed their desire to hastily revoke the decree as the majority of East Timorese voiced their rejection of an offer of wide-ranging autonomy within Indonesia.

PDI Perjuangan faction argued that the decree should be revoked only after the Portugese parliament amends its constitution because it states East Timor is a part of Portugal, there is a thorough investigation into the alleged violations by UNAMET staff during the East Timor ballot and recognition is given to the 94,000-member prointegration militia.

Despite these concerns, the decree is still likely to be revoked in the coming week by the Assembly.

Meanwhile, Ad Hoc Subcommittee III agreed to amend a number of chapters in the 1945 Constitution to limit presidential power. (jsk/rms)