Politicians demand amendment delay

Politicians demand amendment delay

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The constitutional amendment process is still far from
complete, and if those who oppose any constitutional change have
their way it will never be completed.

On Monday, about 20 legislators from the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the country's largest
political party, went to the party's headquarters in Lenteng
Agung, South Jakarta, to demand it stop the amendment process.

Another sign of trouble for the amendment process came from
Vice President Hamzah Haz, who stated on Monday that contentious
articles should not be resolved through a vote during the Annual
Session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in August.

"It is better to delay the debate on the contentious issues in
the amendment process rather than to take decisions through a
vote," he said after a Cabinet meeting.

Hamzah chairs the country's third largest political party, the
United Development Party (PPP).

The PDI Perjuangan legislators urged the party's central board
to propose a national referendum on the constitutional amendment
before the process was allowed to continue.

"We urged the board to make a national referendum on the
amendments the party's policy," legislator Amin Aryoso, who led
the group, said.

"The people have the final say on whether they want to
continue with the amendments or not, and that is why we should
ask them first before deciding anything," he said.

Joining Amin were other nationalists in the party, including
Abdul Madjid and Imam Mundjiat.

Their campaign, if it gains support from other PDI Perjuangan
legislators and from other parties, could prove a major blow to
the ongoing amendment process, which was to be finalized at the
Assembly's Annual Session.

The amendment process was already extended for a year when the
Assembly failed, during its Annual Session last year, to reach a
consensus on direct presidential elections and the composition of
the MPR.

The 20 PDI Perjuangan legislators were received by the party's
deputy secretary-general, Yacobus Mayong Padang, who promised to
deliver their demand to chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri at the
party's national working committee meeting on Wednesday.

Sources inside the party's board said they had been notified
about the planned arrival of the legislators a few days ago.
However, some of the central board's executives members refused
to meet with the group.

"It is uncomfortable to talk with such respected men as Pak
Amin and Abdul Madjid about this issue," one source told The
Jakarta Post.

PDI Perjuangan has been plagued with internal rifts, including
on issues regarding the constitutional amendments.

While Amin and Abdul Madjid are campaigning for the stoppage
of the amendment process, many other party legislators continue
to work on the amendments.

Megawati has been sending mixed signals about her position on
the constitutional amendments. Overall, she is seen as a
reluctant supporter of the constitutional amendments.

During a meeting of party leaders several weeks ago, Megawati
complained about the amendments but reportedly became irritated
when someone in attendance suggested the party block the
amendment process.

When addressing an alumni group from Gadjah Mada University,
Megawati suggested the formation of an independent commission to
oversee the amendment process. But she also suggested a national
referendum before the amendments were finalized.