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.