MPR criticized for failing to realize expectations
JAKARTA (JP): A coalition of 22 non-governmental organizations (Ornop and Aman) condemned on Tuesday the failure of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to support a direct presidential election, and questioned the Assembly members' commitment to democratization.
The coalition demanded a national referendum to gauge people's aspirations about a direct presidential election.
They also asserted that the referendum would also question the public's support of the Assembly's decision to allocate seats in the Assembly to the Indonesian Military (TNI)/National Police until 2009.
"People have the right to have a final say in deciding on substantial issues that will determine their future," said Smita Notosusanto, coordinator of the Center for Electoral Reform (Cetro).
The coalition leaders, including prominent lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis and Smita, were speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday to make public their demands.
The coalition also includes the Foundation of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute (YLBHI), the Legal Aid and Human Rights Association and Indonesia's World Wildlife Fund Foundation.
"We call on people to work together with us to achieve our goal for a direct presidential election," Todung said.
An Assembly ad hoc committee in its deliberations did contemplate the possibility of adopting a direct presidential election, however, Assembly members ended up postponing a discussion on the sensitive subject.
"The MPR members will never allow a direct presidential election because the practice will severely erode their power," said Smita.
Smita said only the National Awakening Party, which was co- founded by President Abdurrahman Wahid, has openly supported the direct presidential election.
Smita also criticized the legislators because they were only concentrating on strengthening their own positions while ignoring the fate of the whole nation.
"Like the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), which totally rejects our proposal without any proper reason," Smita complained.
Separately, YLBHI also slammed the Assembly members for their failure to put the better interests of the nation ahead of their own political gain.
"Instead of overseeing and evaluating the ruling of power by the government, MPR members are focusing their attention only on increasing their power," said Munir, the foundation deputy chairman.
Under the current system, voters elect members of the Assembly who in turn elect a president and vice president.
Some factions have maintained that the country is not ready to execute a direct presidential system.
TNI
All of the 11 factions in the Assembly commission meetings have also endorsed the presence of the military/police presence in the Assembly. The proposal now only needs the formal support of the plenary session, which is expected on Friday.
"We deplore the trepidation of the Assembly members to reject the presence of the TNI/Police faction in the Assembly," Smita noted.
Meanwhile, Munir charged that the decision of Assembly factions to support the continued presence of a TNI/Police faction was in fact jeopardizing the reform movement.
He said the 700-member Assembly were carelessly mixing their factions or personal interests to gain both political and economic interest, ignoring the most strategic need to conceptualize the fundamental aspects of people's state life.
"Obviously, the Assembly has been practicing opportunistic politics while ignoring political ethics. The Assembly has pushed the democracy movement several steps backwards," he added. (bby/prb)