Lawmaking to be more open

Lawmaking to be more open

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta

House of Representatives factions and the government agreed on
Monday to provide the public at large with greater access to the
legislative deliberation process at all governmental levels
throughout the country.

The agreement was reached during a meeting between Minister of
Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra and the House
special committee in charge of deliberating the lawmaking
procedures bill.

Previously, a number of non-governmental organizations grouped
in the Coalition for Participatory Policies had called for
increased access to ensure public participation in the country's
lawmaking process.

"We are really surprised that the legislators have acceded to
our demand. We will encourage the public to submit their opinions
to the legislators," said Afrizal Tjoetra, the coordinator of the
coalition.

Following the agreement, the House is expected to bring the
legislative procedures bill to a plenary meeting on May 24 for
endorsement. The bill if passed will, however, take effect only
after Nov. 1, pending the establishment of the Regional
Representatives Council (DPD), which is also covered by the bill.

The government, however, has rejected the idea of extending
public access to the formulation and drafting of government
regulations, arguing that these processes come within the
prerogative of the President.

Nia Sjarifuddin, an activist in the coalition, said public
participation in the lawmaking process was essential if
legislation and regulations were to be accepted by the public.

So far, the constitutionality of 30 statutes has been
challenged in the Constitutional Court since it was established
last year.

Other statutes that have sparked controversy are Law No.
20/2002 on the electricity industry, Law No. 32/2002 on
broadcasting, Law No.11/2003 on the partition of Riau province,
Law No. 13/2003 on manpower, Law No. 16/2003 on terrorism, Law
No. 18/2003 on the advocate's profession, Law No. 45/1999 on the
partition of Papua province, and the Water Resources Law.

"These examples clearly reflect the fact that the lawmaking
process does not involve public participation. Therefore, the
laws are not accepted by the public," Nia added.

Nia said that her fellow activists in the coalition fully
understood that their participation in the lawmaking process
would be limited.

"But at least, we will be able to influence the deliberations
on a bill right from the very beginning," she said.