NGOs reject third amendment to 1945 Constitution

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A coalition of non-governmental organizations yesterday rejected the third amendment to the 1945 Constitution and urged the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) to set up an independent commission to facilitate public participation in determining the country's Constitution.

"We strongly reject the third amendment of 1945 Constitution being deliberated on in the on-going Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly," said Smita Notosusanto, executive director of the Centre for Electoral Reform (Cetro), Thursday night.

"We demand the MPR to form an independent constitutional commission which will empower the people in suggesting and determining their own Constitution," said Smita, adding that amendments made by MPR members cannot be relied upon with any certainty for future democracy.

She also condemned the Assembly's inability to carry out the required amendments.

"Up to this point tonight, there is no clear result" of their work, she continued. Cetro is a member of a coalition consisting of dozens of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) of various backgrounds.

Smita said she and other coalition members were disappointed with the amendment process carried out by Assembly members since the Annual Session started on Nov. 1, 2001.

"The amendment process is being marred by horse-trading. That is not a good process," she said, referring to the deal between Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

Cetro claims that the amendment process is not being done in a systematic and comprehensive manner, but solely accommodating the interest of the current political elites.

A fellow activist from the Society for Ecology-based Law Reform (Huma) Sandra Moniaga meanwhile took a more diplomatic stance, saying that there were positive and negative aspects in the Annual Session.

"For me, the deliberation on Agrarian Reform and Natural Resource Management is sufficient enough, but it needs a strong commitment from the government for its implementation," she told The Jakarta Post.

Concerning the constitutional amendment, Sandra said that there was only a little awareness from the legislators on the issue.

"On this fundamental subject, the legislators are backward," she added.

Witnessing all the scenes in the Assembly, Smita said that her group's demand for a constitutional commission should be justified.

"We will continue demands for the creation of an independent commission," she said.