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)