New Assembly members sworn in
New Assembly members sworn in
JAKARTA (JP): The People's Consultative Assembly, bearing the
task of setting the nation on the course of democracy, solemnly
began its General Session on Friday amid tight security.
Hundreds of military and police personnel were stationed
around the Assembly building as members of the country's highest
law-making body took the oath of office.
The stately ceremony was unmarred by incident, except for a
scattering of boos aimed at President B.J. Habibie as he strode
into the Assembly hall. Others in attendance clapped the entrance
of the President, whose smile never left his face.
This breach of etiquette drew a protest from National Mandate
Party legislator A.M. Fatwa, who interrupted the chairman of the
session, Sujitno Harjosudiro, to ask him to rebuke the unruly
Assembly members.
"This is the highest institution in the state. I want you, on
behalf of all of us, to reprimand those who booed," Fatwa said.
Sujitno, who was appointed to preside over the session until a
speaker of the Assembly is elected on Saturday, responded to the
request by saying: "Assembly members must behave, and I approve
the admonishment."
Chief Justice Sarwata led the separate swearing-in ceremonies
for members of the Assembly and the House of Representatives.
All but two House legislators turned up for the ceremony. The
General Elections Commission (KPU) has yet to clear up the legal
difficulties surrounding the last-minute appointments of
Indonesian National Party-Marhaen chairman Probosutedjo and
Democratic Catholic Party chairman Markus Mali to the House.
Neither Probosutedjo, a half-brother of former president
Soeharto, and Markus should have qualified for the House because
their parties did not win a sufficient number of votes in their
respective constituencies, according to the Elections Law. The
KPU, however, granted them seats in the House.
A total of 628 of the 700 Assembly members were installed on
Friday.
The Assembly is composed of 500 House legislators, including
38 representatives of the Indonesian Military and the National
Police, plus 165 regional and 65 interest group representatives.
In a rare break from tradition, Assembly members expressed
their newfound freedom by remaining seated when the head of state
entered the hall.
The new Assembly also limited the time given the President for
his opening speech to the Assembly, something which never
happened to his predecessor Soeharto. According to the schedule
issued by the House/Assembly Secretariat General, the President
was allotted 20 minutes for his speech.
Later in the General Session, the President will have to give
his accountability speech to the Assembly, which will also elect
the next president.
In his televised speech, the President congratulated the new
Assembly members and exhorted them to do their best to aid the
process of democratization in the country, to promote human
rights and the rule of law and seek ways to help the country
emerge from its economic crisis.
Habibie also threw his weight behind the demand for amendments
to the Constitution, but warning that such changes should be
aimed at preventing government from holding an absolute power.
"The amendment should assure that the government will not be
too dominant nor discourage democratization," he said.
Habibie specifically deplored the use of street rallies as a
means to express people's demands. He said demonstrations would
wreak havoc to the ongoing process of economic recovery in the
country.
"Economic recovery requires a conducive and stable
sociopolitical atmosphere," he said.
On a somber note, an officer providing security at the session
died from a heart attack.
Physician Muhammad Arifin told reporters that Chief Warrant
Officer M. Tunjung, 43, a member of the Jakarta Military
Command's intelligence unit, died despite medical personnel's
efforts to resuscitate him.
Witnesses said the officer was watching the live television
broadcast of the Assembly members being sworn in before he passed
away. (emf/byg/rms/amd)