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