Jakarta Chapter faces mounting rejection

Jakarta Chapter faces mounting rejection

JAKARTA (JP): A proposal to include the Jakarta Chapter in the
1945 Constitution faces mounting rejection from both a noted
political observer and members of the provincial legislative
council in North Sulawesi and North Sumatra.

Political observer Mochtar Pabottingi said on Tuesday the
proposal to include the chapter in the Constitution was an effort
to bring the nation into ideological conflict.

"It's unnecessary. Including the chapter in Article 29 will
automatically mean including it in the Constitution," Mochtar
said on the sidelines of a seminar in Jakarta, responding to the
proposal made by the United Development Party (PPP).

Meanwhile, the North Sulawesi Legislative Council, announced
on Monday that on behalf of local inhabitants the council
strongly rejected the proposal.

The council would soon send a delegation to the People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) in Jakarta to submit the aspirations
of local people, Syachrial Damapolii, speaker of the council,
said.

The Jakarta Chapter, intended to form the basis of the
Preamble of the 1945 Constitution, drew debate at the time over
the wording "obliging its followers to exercise Islamic laws."
The chapter was later dropped from the Constitution.

The debate on this subject reappeared, following last
weekend's statement by Vice President Hamzah Haz, who said that
in his capacity as chairman of the United Development Party (PPP)
the inclusion of the chapter in Article 29 of the Constitution
would not threaten other religions in the country.

The decision of the North Sulawesi Legislative Council to
reject the proposal was reached at a plenary meeting on Monday.
It was backed up by four factions, Golkar, Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Defense Force/Police and the
Indonesian National Unity Party (KKI).

Djendry Keintjem of PDI Perjuangan faction said should the
Jakarta Chapter be implemented nationwide, the North Sulawesi
province would declare independence.

He even urged the local administration to draw a straight
borderline from Indonesian territory in preparation for
independence.

The Muslim population in the province is smaller than that of
non-Muslims. Data from 1998 shows the Muslim population in the
province was 1.24 million, while that of non-Muslims is 1.43
million.

Mochtar of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) said if
the political elite insisted on including the Jakarta Chapter in
any laws, it would mean inserting religion into state
affairs.

Mochtar welcomed the proposal because it represents the
aspirations of party members and reflects democracy. "Please, go
ahead. But remember, the Muslim majority, represented by
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, has rejected it," he said,
referring to the two largest Muslim organizations. (48/08)