JAKARTA: The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) decided not

JAKARTA: The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) decided not
to invite the Supreme Advisory Council (DPA) to give its report
at the Annual Session from Aug. 1 through 10 as the Council had
legally been disbanded last year.

Assembly speaker Amien Rais suggested on Thursday that
President Megawati Soekarnoputri issue a decree to formally
disband the council.

Lawmakers disbanded the 30-strong DPA last year when they
completed the amendment of the constitution, but the institution
continues to exist until today.

Constitutional law expert Jimly Ashidiqqie said earlier that
the presence of the DPA had ended as soon as the constitutional
amendment process ended.

DPA was reportedly used by former president Soeharto to
accommodate retired military and state officials. --JP