MPR to extend debate on election rule changes

JAKARTA (JP): The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) put a halt to the tough deliberation on the proposed amendments to a decree on general elections yesterday and agreed to allow faction leaders to seek a compromise.

Wiranto, who chairs the Assembly's ad hoc committee in charge of matters outside the State Policy Guidelines, said the committee had run out of time to discuss the amendments and had to move to another draft of decree.

No agreement was reached after four days of debate which started Monday, with minority factions the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) insisting the Assembly add "fair" and "honest" to the principles that guide the implementation of general elections. At present, the principles only mandate directness, universality and confidentiality.

The two minority parties also urged the Assembly to allow poll contestants to have an equal footing with the President in organizing the five-yearly elections.

Dominant political group Golkar and its traditional allies, the Armed Forces and regional representatives factions, rejected the demand.

"I appreciate each faction for giving thorough arguments. We cannot reach a decision now, but we will have one in the end. We may have to synchronize our deliberation with that of the other committee on the State Policy Guidelines," said Wiranto.

He said lobbying among faction leaders was expected to help the factions reach a common understanding.

The committee will now start deliberation on Golkar's proposal to give the President extra power to take preemptive measures against those considered attempting to disrupt the national development program.

PDI spokesman Ismunandar said the tiny faction would not change its mind.

"It has been our commitment for so long to establish fair and honest elections. We will fight for it to the end because at stake is our constituents' trust," he said.

Chairman of the PDI faction in the Assembly, Buttu Hutapea, said the faction was anticipating a deadlock in the deliberation in the first stage of the Assembly's general session which will end on Jan. 23 next year. The second stage is in March.

"Each faction has to be open to the fact that the first stage of the general session is not intended to produce final drafts of decrees. Theoretically we can force other factions to bring this deliberation to the second stage of the session in March," Buttu said.

If the Assembly fails to reach an agreement on the election rules amendments, it will be the first time in the history of the Assembly under the New Order that a draft has to be decided in the second stage of the lawmaking body's general session.

The 1,000-strong Assembly will regroup in March to endorse decrees and the State Policy Guidelines and elect a president and vice president. (amd)