MPR commission completes draft of economic recovery decree

Fitri Wulandari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Commission B of the Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) completed on Friday the deliberation of the draft of an economic recovery decree after all the factions agreed to include the word pribumi (indigenous) in the draft.

"MPR leaders had advised the Commission to stress improving economic conditions, particularly for the underprivileged and indigenous people as in reality 60 percent of them were still living below the poverty line," Assembly Speaker Amien Rais told reporters after a consultative meeting with the head of Commission B and faction leaders.

"But we will still give attention to the nonindigenous," he said.

The consultative meeting was held after Commission B failed on Thursday to complete the draft as members were split on whether or not to put the word pribumi in item number five of the basic policies.

Point five of the basic policies to speed up economic recovery reads as follow:

"Improving the national economic structure by widening public participation and emancipation, including gender equity, so as to boost and develop the economy of the underprivileged and indigenous people, and reorganize the distribution system of the people's needs as producers and consumers to improve productivity."

The contentious part lies in the word pribumi, or indigenous.

The word could be interpreted as showing that the government sides with certain groups in society. It is also generally known that the words pribumi and non pribumi are often used to differentiate Indonesians of Chinese descent from other ethnic groups.

The initial draft did not mention either the words pribumi or "underprivileged".

Some factions who rejected the word pribumi in the draft said the sentence was discriminative and racist. The 1945 Constitution stipulates that every Indonesian citizen has equal rights before the law and to get protection.

On the other hand, those supporting the new draft argued that nonindigenous people had contributed to the collapse of the country's economy. They also said nonindigenous people had prevented indigenous people from getting their fair share of the economic cake.

Several legislators cited the scandals involving the BLBI liquidity support loans. A total of 48 banks have been charged with misusing around Rp 138 trillion in the loans which were initially provided to prevent them from collapsing in the wake of the economic crisis.

Most of these banks were owned by Chinese tycoons.

Rambe Kamarulzaman, the head of Commission B, dismissed allegations that the use of the word pribumi was an indication that the government was siding with certain ethnic groups. He said the word "underprivileged" was an adequate reference to the poor in general.

"Besides, is it wrong for us to give special attention to pribumi people?" Rambe asked.

Meanwhile, Commission C recommended that the President revoke and review all presidential decrees whose issuance were the result of corruption and collusion.

Barlianta Harahap, the head of Commission C, said that efforts to eradicate corruption had not been successful.

"Corruption, collusion and nepotism are now more rampant in both in the central and local governments," Barlianta said.

The MPR also told the President to complete deliberation of a bill on the Commission for the Eradication of Corruption with the House of Representatives.

Commission C also recommended the government follow up on the results of a series of dialogues with Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels.

"The conflict in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam poses a serious threat of disintegration," said Barlianta.

The government was also recommended to make efforts to hold negotiations on Aceh within the country. Past negotiations were held in Switzerland.