PDI to fight for ABRI's presence in House

JAKARTA (JP): The tiny Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) faction of the House of Representatives will fight for the continued representation of the Armed Forces in the legislative body, a party executive has said.

Ismunandar, chairman of the government-recognized PDI faction in the People's Consultative Assembly's Ad Hoc Committee I said on Monday his faction would fight for the Armed Forces (ABRI) faction to remain in the House until the upcoming Assembly special session in November.

"PDI's stance is clear that ABRI's presence in the House is still very much needed in case critical conditions lead the nation into disintegration.

"Besides, ABRI should be given a role in politics in compensation to prevent it from staging a coup," he said.

The ad hoc committee is under the Assembly's working committee discussing draft resolutions or proposals to be presented to and adopted by the special session.

All factions in the ad hoc committee "agreed to disagree" over ABRI representation in the House. The issue will be brought to a meeting of the working committee, where if a decision is not made, it will be brought to the Assembly's special session.

The United Development Party (PPP) is the only faction in the committee against ABRI representation in the House, and in the provincial and regional legislative councils. It said that based on the military's poor current and past image, it was enough for ABRI to have representatives only in the Assembly, the highest state institution.

The government's draft law on the function and composition of the People's Consultative Assembly, the House of Representatives and regional councils states that 55 legislators will be appointed from ABRI, down from the previously reserved 75 seats.

Despite ABRI's statements that it would diminish its socio- political role, the draft law also states ABRI is to have 10 percent of the seats in provincial and regional councils.

The above draft is one of three bills on political laws scheduled for deliberation starting on Friday at the House of Representatives. (rms)