MPR fails to agree on constitutional reforms

MPR fails to agree on constitutional reforms

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) wrapped up their annual
session on Friday evening, but failed to reach an agreement on
constitutional reforms to allow voters to elect the president by
direct ballot.

The MPR, the country's highest legislative body, agreed in
principle to hold direct presidential elections, but differed on
what to do if the presidential and vice presidential candidates
could not win by a simple majority, prompting the body to
postpone the decision until next year.

"It is clear that all factions want the unresolved issues to
be taken up for further deliberation in the 2002 Annual Session,"
Assembly Speaker Amien Rais said during a plenary meeting on
Friday night.

Amien said the agreement was reached after intensive lobbying
between the eleven factions last night.

The Assembly also rejected demands of non-governmental
organizations for the setting up of an independent constitutional
commission, arguing that only the MPR had the authority to amend
the country's Constitution.

The articles to be deliberated in next year's Annual Session
include the composition of the Assembly, presidential elections,
provisions for what should be done if the president and the vice
president are unable to carry out state duties and the state
budget.

Amid broad criticism, the Assembly passed seven decrees
including the those on ethics; Indonesian vision, curbing the
practices of corruption, collusion and nepotism; agrarian and
natural resources; decree on economic recovery; accountability of
state agencies and Assembly internal regulations.

The enactment of the revised internal regulations of the
Assembly lead to the reestablishment of the Regional
Representatives faction (FUD) that was disbanded in 1999.

As expected, fierce debate over constitutional amendment
became the main issue, and the legislators decided to take a
four-and-a-half hour break to further intensify lobbying.

Deputy chairman of Commission A for amendment Slamet Effendy
Yusuf confirmed after the lobbying that the factions had agreed
to postpone the deliberation of two articles until next year.

The two articles are Article 23B and 23D on state budget and
Article 8 (3) on procedures should either the president or vice-
president be unable to carry out state duties.

All factions, while agreeing in principle to direct
presidential elections, maintained their stance on the procedure.

Vested political interests of each faction continued to play a
prominent role in the process of amendment, which has ignited the
prolonged debate on the country's Constitution.

In a session earlier in the day, Assembly Speaker Amien Rais
decided to pass six decrees and one special decree, besides a
decree on the amendment of the Constitution.

The session was marked with some interruptions including those
from prominent political figures such as Siswono Yudohusodo from
the Interest Group faction and Permadi from the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

Ariyadi Achmad of Golkar Party and Jusuf Muhammad from the
National Awakening Party (PKB) also made interruptions.

Jusuf said his faction endorsed the existence of the Supreme
Advisory Council (DPA). Earlier, the PKB wanted the advisory
council to be scrapped.

Amien, who seemed in the hurry, ignored almost all
interruptions made by legislators. He simply said: "Thanks for
the suggestion, but I think that everybody here is in agreement
to pass these decrees."

He then banged his gavel twice.

Angry with Amien's response, legislators Djamal Do'a from the
United Development Party, who protested one of the decrees, left
the plenary session room.

The Annual Session, which was cut short, managed to fulfill
the targeted number of decrees that had been discussed in the
last six months in the Assembly working committee.

Debate on several articles relating to the preparation for the
2004 elections reached an impasse. These included: Article 2 on
the composition of the Assembly, Article 6A on presidential
elections, Article 7B on impeachment, Article 22C on the
composition of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) and
Article 22E on general election.

Some other articles that remain unsolved are Article 15A on
the Supreme Advisory Council (DPA), Article 23 on the State
Budget, Article 23E on the State Audit Body and Article 24 on
Judicial Power and the composition of the Constitutional Court.

Decrees of the Assembly

- Ethics in Nationhood, Statehood, and Social Life
- Vision of Indonesia's Future
- Clean State Administration, Free From Corruption, Collusion,
Nepotism
- Agrarian Reform and Natural Resource Management
- Economic Restructuring and Recovery
- Recommendation for State High Institutions
- Internal Regulations of the Assembly