PDI questions extra presidential power

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) faction delayed its stance yesterday over dominant Golkar's motion to grant extra power to the next president, saying that the proposal needed further explanation.

Spokesmen for the minority faction Ismunandar and Yahya Theo told an ad hoc committee session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) yesterday that Golkar failed to cite security and long-term reasons behind its campaign to give excessive power to the next president.

"We need very strong arguments on why we have come to this conclusion (to have a more powerful president) ... (in order) to prevent public speculation that the country is endangered," Ismunandar said.

"Never assume that the public will (automatically) share our perception," he added.

Golkar and the regional representatives faction told the session presided over by Wiranto of the Armed Forces that the next president would need "constitutional power that allows him or her to take preemptive measures against any activities which endanger national unity, the development program, Pancasila democracy, the state ideology Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution".

The two factions put forward their proposal in response to President Soeharto's advice during a crash course for new legislators in August that the Assembly should consider granting extra power, given the country's greater challenges in the future.

Golkar spokesman Toni Hartono said monetary turmoil, accidents at sea, in the air and on land, widespread forest fires and a severe drought had confirmed the need for the faction's bid.

"We don't want certain groups to take advantage of the disasters. If those calamities occur in the future ... we must think about and prepare constitutional instruments to prevent the worst from happening," Toni said.

Chairman of the Golkar faction in the Assembly, Ginandjar Kartasasmita, and his Armed Forces counterpart Lt. Gen. Yunus Yosfiah, attended the session. It was their first appearance in an ad hoc committee meeting since the Assembly's general session kicked off on Oct. 27.

Spokesman of the Armed Forces faction Achmad Roestandi said national stability remained under control, but it was logical to give the next president extra power to save development programs and national unity. He cited pluralism and globalization which left the country vulnerable to infiltration, subversion and the use of arms by other countries.

"(With the extra presidential power) those who will try to subvert this country will think twice or three times or will even abandon their attempts," Roestandi said.

He said the President should, however, exercise the power as the last resort and only after consulting the House of Representatives.

Yahya of PDI said the faction would like the Armed Forces faction to describe national and international politics before unveiling its stance on Golkar's proposal.

The United Development Party (PPP) faction agreed to the plan only if it was incorporated in the State Policy Guidelines.

Its spokesman, Zain Badjeber, said the extra power -- or "special duties" as the Moslem-based faction calls it, was relevant to the president as he or she is the person who executes the Assembly's mandate in the form of the State Policy Guidelines.

The deliberation will resume today to hear PDI's stance on the issue.

In the other ad hoc committee session deliberating the State Policy Guidelines, all the five factions discussed a new stance on social and mass organizations.

PPP spokesman Muhammad Buang hinted that the Assembly was considering having the 1985 Law on Mass Organizations reviewed. (amd)