MPR ends its session and avows failure

JAKARTA (JP): The 10-day People's Consultative Assembly Annual Session ended on Friday afternoon producing 10 decrees and several constitutional amendments, but fell far short of tackling much of the nation's pressing problems.

Assembly Speaker Amien Rais openly acknowledged the failure of the first ever Annual Session to solve many major challenges due to the complexity of the crisis.

"We do not have an Aladdin's lamp to overcome the problems instantly," Amien said after closing the session, which was also attended by both President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Amien noted the nation's high expectation of the Assembly as many believed it could help them overcome the economic crisis and threat of disintegration.

They also expected the revival of economic activities, the enforcement of law and reaffirmation of the nation's unity, Amien noted.

"Therefore, let us work together to uphold social and political justice, justice in the economy and law and equality in the education sector, especially in Aceh and Irian Jaya. We hope that violence will stop in the two provinces," Amien said in his official closing remarks.

Citing the words of Megawati's father, Sukarno, the country's first president, the speaker said: "During this critical moment, let us remember Bung Karno's teaching about the nationalism of Indonesia".

Departing from previous traditions, where a prayer at a closing ceremony is read by a senior government official or an ulema, Amien led the prayer as part of his speech.

While the economic crisis and unabated violence in places like Maluku grabbed a few precious moments in the proceedings, one significant outcome of the session was a statement from President Abdurrahman Wahid to hand over much of the day-to-day running of the government to Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

The statement came as the President responded to the faction's strong reply to his progress report.

In a symbolic gesture, the President, accompanied by the Vice President along with the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) Satrio Billy Joedono, acting Chief Justice Ketut Suraputra, Supreme Advisory Council Achmad Tirtosudiro and House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung, each received a copy of Assembly Decree No. VIII/2000, which summarized and made recommendations concerning their individual reports.

The decree, among other things, instructed the President to issue a presidential decree that would specifically outline the added duties of the Vice President.

The President did not make any comments after receiving the copy of the decree.

Earlier in the morning, the 11 factions in the Assembly unanimously agreed to endorse the 10 Assembly decrees and constitutional amendments on seven chapters in a 20-minute session.

But the brief morning session was not without drama.

Two legislators, Hartono Mardjono of the Crescent Star faction and Ghazali Abas Adan from the United Development Party (PPP) faction, protested the Assembly's decision to maintain the presence of the Indonesian Military (TNI)/National Police in the Assembly until 2009.

They demanded the Assembly be free of nonelected TNI/police representatives by 2004, the year in which the Assembly last year had decided to vacate the TNI/police seats in the House of Representatives.

"In maintaining the dignity of the Assembly as the country's highest institution in carrying out the nation's mandate, and especially the dignity of student and reform fighters, I demand the presence of the TNI/police end in 2004," Hartono said.

Ghazali, who represents Aceh in his faction, where a decade- long military operation has claimed thousands of victims, also pointed out the large segment of society who reject the military presence.

Waste

The wave of dissatisfaction over the overall work of the Assembly was also acknowledged by Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung, who said it was too much of a waste of the Rp 25.7 billion allocated.

"People's complaints about the cost are quite proper, and we hope next year's Annual Session will be more efficient and effective," Akbar disclosed in a media briefing.

In the morning's plenary session, Reform faction member A.M. Fatwa also raised concern over the costly session.

Fatwa insisted members of the 700-strong Assembly who reside in Jakarta did not need to be given hotel rooms.

"I suggest, especially to the 500 House members, not to stay in hotels because the state has already provided housing and vehicles for them," Fatwa said.

"I see nothing significant in the results of the session," Fatwa added.

Meanwhile, questions about two outspoken legislators from Golkar, Ekky Syahrudin and Priyo Budi Santoso, were publicly aired during Golkar's news conference on Friday.

A journalist asked Akbar to comment on the rumors among Assembly members that the usually vocal Ekky and Priyo suddenly became quiet after recently meeting with the President.

"No, they are working hard as usual," Akbar responded.

Rumors are rife in the Assembly that the two usually critical legislators suddenly toned down their views after meeting recently with Abdurrahman this week.

Ekky and Priyo admitted they had heard about the rumors and even confirmed their recent meeting with the President.

"(But) Gus Dur is my long-time friend, there's nothing special about me meeting him," Ekky said, referring to Abdurrahman. (rms/dja/jun/prb)