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)