Major parties reject inclusion of Jakarta Charter

Major parties reject inclusion of Jakarta Charter

JAKARTA (JP): The country's two largest parties reiterated
their intention to reject inclusion of the Jakarta Charter in
Article 29 of the 1945 Constitution, viewing the United
Development Party (PPP)'s effort to institute the doctrine for
Islamic Syariah law merely an expression of responsibility to its
constituents.

Members of the Golkar Party and the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) told The Jakarta Post on
Monday that it would be a waste of energy reopening discussion on
inclusion of the charter, which would mean full implementation of
Islamic law for Muslims in Indonesia.

PPP chairman Hamzah Haz insisted on Saturday that inclusion of
the charter would threaten other religions in the country.

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

"PPP should stick to their political choice to fight for the
Jakarta Charter, but I don't think this is a serious effort. They
just have to appear to be consistent, especially to their
constituents," Ade Komaruddin of the Golkar Party said.

He further said that it would be strange if PPP did not
suggest the move after the party's chairman Hamzah Haz was
elected Vice President.

"It's their ideology to fight for Islam, but I am sure that
they understand political realities may hamper them in their
effort. For Golkar, we are not in the position to insist on the
Jakarta Charter," Ade said.

Indonesia's two largest Muslim organizations -- Nadhatul Ulama
(NU) and Muhammadiyah -- also rejected the charter's
implementation, saying that it would only provoke religious
disharmony.

PDI Perjuangan deputy chairman Roy B. Janis also said that the
suggestion was just an idea and every political party had the
right to propose anything.

"But I believe that they realize the political reality that it
was decided by our founding fathers not to include Piagam Jakarta
(the Jakarta Charter), so why should we further discuss the
issue?" Roy said.

He also stressed that the debate was not a sign of discord
between the nation's two leaders as PPP's suggestion to include
the Jakarta Charter was something to be expected, which the
President had considered earlier.

"We know they will lobby for the Jakarta Charter because it is
their political stance, but we cannot stop people from throwing
forward a suggestion," Roy commented.

Separately, Syaiful Achmad of the National Mandate Party (PAN)
said that he personally supported PPP's suggestion and hoped that
other Muslim-based parties would support the idea.

"It is a good idea, but of course PAN as a party does not
support it. Many of the (PAN) members personally support the
suggestion," Syaiful told the Post.

"I think many legislators, from the Muslim-based parties
actually support the suggestion and will continue to fight for it
at the 1945 Constitution amendment process by the People's
Consultative Assembly," he remarked. (dja)