Matori favors putting off amendments

Matori favors putting off amendments

Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Cirebon, West Java

Minister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil expressed wariness on
Saturday over the ongoing constitutional amendments and urged
legislators to postpone the process due to the potentially
divisive and unsettling debate it was igniting.

During a visit to the Jagasatru religious boarding school
here, Matori told reporters that the current debate could be
politically destabilizing and spark a wider conflict.

It is unclear whether his comments were reflective of the
government's position on the controversial amendment process, but
his remarks are certain to complicate the already contentious
debate.

"It would be better if it is postponed until such a time when
the situation is more conducive," Matori said.

"This will also allow time for the public to present their
proposals."

According to Matori, the debates on amendments to the 1945
Constitution have crystallized staunch opposition groups which
could permeate into civil unrest.

The People's Consultative Assembly through its ad-hoc
commission is in the process of drafting amendments to the
constitution.

Apart from the debate over the constitutional changes, the
process has drawn criticism from many public groups who question
the exclusivity of the amendments process which seemingly
excludes public participation.

The amendments already agreed on in principle include the
concept of a direct presidential election. However, no consensus
has been reached on the election mechanism.

Commission members are also hotly debating the fate of the
Functional Group faction, as a bicameral system is to be adopted
under the new constitution.

Several legislators have warned that further delays to the
amendments could disrupt the 2004 general elections, since new
bills on political parties and elections, which are based on the
new amendments, could not be passed.

Technically constitutional amendments are the sole prerogative
of the Assembly. The government has little say in the matter.

While Matori initially based his argument on the possible
societal divisiveness the constitutional debates may cause, it
was clear that he himself was concerned with the direction the
amendments were heading.

He perceived that there were signs the Assembly was going too
far.

"If these are the changes that are happening, then its
equivalent to replacing the 1945 Constitution," he said without
specifying which changes he was uncomfortable with.

"This is an unhealthy situation. That's why I'm proposing the
amendments be postponed."

"Why don't we sit down and talk about it first, hold a dialog.
Let's wait till the situation is more conducive, then we will
truly know if the amendments currently being pursued can go ahead
or not," he said.

Assembly Speaker Amien Rais has so far insisted that the
amendments must go ahead, arguing that it is part of the spirit
of the reformation process.