PDI to fight for ABRI's presence in House
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)