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.