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.