NGOs seek open door to House

NGOs seek open door to House

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta

Legislators assured on Sunday that the public at large would be
given access to the law making process in the House of
Representatives (DPR) through their opinions related to bills
under deliberation.

The public, however, could not take part in the deliberation
process itself as this came within the purview of the lawmakers
and the government.

"Public participation in the law-making process is limited to
providing opinions," Zain Badjeber of the United Development
Party (PPP) faction told The Jakarta Post here on Sunday.

He was responding to the demand of a number of non-
governmental organizations (NGOs) grouped in the Coalition for
Participatory Policies that the House grant the public a right of
direct access during the deliberation of bills.

The NGOs urged the House formalize this right in Article 58 of
the bill on law-making procedures, which is currently being
deliberated by the House. This article provides that the public
"may" provide input during the processes of drafting and
deliberating bills.

Meanwhile, legislator Ida Fauziyah from the National Awakening
Party (PKB) faction said that lawmakers always took the advice
and opinions of the public into consideration.

"What is more important, however, is the willingness of the
House factions to heed the advice and opinions of the public. The
House standing orders must require the factions to listen to what
the public says," she told the Post.

However, the NGO coalition doubted that he bill, if passed,
would encourage lawmakers to take the views of the public into
account.

Public participation in the law-making process had been
negated in the first place by the fact that legislators were
selected by their political parties rather than directly by the
public.

Both Zain and Fauziyah claimed that the House always welcomed
members of the public or NGO activists who wished to voice their
opinions on a bill.

"I think our friends in the coalition have failed to define
their objectives," Zain added.

The deliberation of the bill on law-making procedures has
entered its final stage. Legislators are scheduled to meet
Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra on
Monday for final discussions.

Zain revealed that the legislators and the government had
agreed to change the title of statutes.

Currently, a statute bears the title: "President of the
Republic of Indonesia". Following the agreement, this would now
be changed to: "The House of Representatives and the President of
the Republic of Indonesia".

Zain said the agreement was in line with the amended 1945
Constitution, which states that all bills must be endorsed by
both the House of Representatives and the President to enter into
effect.

Despite the agreement, legislators and the government remain
at odds over which side is entitled to sign a bill following its
endorsement by the House.

The lawmakers have proposed that this power be given to the
House Speaker, but the government insists the President has the
sole power to enact a bill into law.