Parties rethink state security bill

Parties rethink state security bill

JAKARTA (JP): Officials of the country's top political parties
signaled on Sunday they were leaning toward delaying the
endorsement of the government-sponsored state security bill by
the House of Representatives.

Golkar deputy chairman Marzuki Darusman told The Jakarta Post
that broader concerns were a greater priority than the fiercely
opposed bill.

"We need to consider the general good and public opinion," he
said of the bill which has sparked nationwide street protests and
opposition.

Critics charge the bill, which covers measures permitted
during states of emergency, would grant overwhelming authority on
the military which could be misused to quash opposition and curb
freedom of the press.

The bill is in its final stages of deliberation and is due for
endorsement at a plenary session of the House on Thursday, one
day before the current group of legislators ends its term of
office.

The sudden about-face came after top officials from several
parties -- Golkar, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
(PDI Perjuangan), the National Mandate Party (PAN) and National
Awakening Party (PKB) -- met on Sunday evening.

The meeting was facilitated by editors from several mainstream
publications.

Marzuki said there was an agreement among the parties on "the
possibility of delaying the bill until the new House convenes".

"On Monday we will summon Agus Muhyidin and also discuss if
the bill is undemocratic or limits democracy itself," Marzuki
said of Golkar's next move.

Golkar legislator Agus heads the House's special committee
deliberating the bill.

Marzuki acknowledged that there was a prevailing fear that the
bill, once endorsed, would be used to call off the General
Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in November.

Among the MPR's primary tasks will be to adopt the guidelines
of state policy and elect a new president.

Bara Hasibuan of PAN, who also attended Sunday's meeting,
confirmed that a general consensus was reached on the possibility
of delaying the bill's endorsement.

He contended that pushing the bill into law against widespread
opposition would only aggravate the already fragile political
climate.

"It will ignite a process of radicalization," he told the
Post.

Election

Asked if the meeting discussed the possibility of moving
forward the date of the General Session, Marzuki responded that
there was a growing understanding that the Assembly could
expedite the presidential accountability and election.

"There's no need to wait until November," he said.

"If we wait until November, it will only prolong the
uncertainty which could result in a deepening of the economic
crisis."

Bara also remarked that the country was in a state of crisis
due to the lack of leadership shown by President B.J. Habibie.

He said that customary issues tackled by the Assembly could be
put on the back burner of priorities given the pressing need for
a new government to reinvigorate the nation.

"So it is better to speed up the election of a new president,
rather than focusing on things such as the guidelines of state
policy or amending the 1945 Constitution," he said.

The first phase of the Assembly begins on Oct. 1 with the
inauguration of new members.

Signs that parties were working together were evident on
Saturday evening when six parties -- Golkar, the United
Development Party (PPP), PKB, PAN, the Crescent Star Party (PBB)
and the Justice Party (PK) -- agreed to form a small team to
prepare rules of procedures for the upcoming MPR session.

The team is expected to submit its recommendations on Sept.
25. (05)