PPP casts session off course

JAKARTA (JP): The United Development Party (PPP) legislators on Monday abandoned a tough session in the deliberation of the political bills, which again saw factions undecided over issues of the Armed Forces' (ABRI) unelected House seats, electoral districts and the role of civil servants in politics.

The PPP legislators were markedly absent in the meeting of the House Special Committee. When asked, however, a PPP legislator said it was out of "worries" that they would be made to vote on the issues, while another said it was not a boycott.

The PPP, however, will join the other faction leaders of Golkar, the Armed Forces (ABRI) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) in a lobbying session on Tuesday morning at 7:30. The actual meeting of the Special Committee is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m.

Monday's session, scheduled to hear progress reports from working committees that have been exploring details of the bills for the past month, was aborted. Special committee chairman Abu Hasan Sazili opened the session at 2 p.m. but closed it ten minutes later, after announcing that faction leaders needed more time for lobbying as they were holding their stances on all the issues.

Sazili pointed out that the public already knew the factions' arguments on the issues at hand, but, he insisted, "it's now time to look for a meeting of minds," he said.

Soon after the session, Sazili, Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid and ministry staff member Ryaas Rasyid, and faction leaders -- Zarkasih Nur and Bachtiar Chamsyah of the PPP, Andi Matallata of Golkar, Y.B. Wiyanjono and Buttu Hutapea of the PDI and Budi Harsono of ABRI -- held another closed door meeting.

The session began at around 2:30 p.m. and concluded after 6 p.m., but still no commitment was produced.

"We'll resume talks at 7:30 tomorrow (Tuesday)," Zarkasih said.

Both Sazili and Zarkasih confirmed no agreement was reached in the hasty meeting.

However, Sazili told a news conference earlier that factions remained committed to passing the bills on Jan. 28.

Sazili said the absence of most PPP legislators in the morning session was not a problem as one of them, Djufrie Asmoredjo, who is Sazili's deputy on the special committee, was in attendance.

Djufrie, however, told reporters separately that the PPP legislators were absent because they were "worried" they would be made to vote on the issues.

PPP legislator Harminto Agustono said the party "is not trying to delay the passing of the bills but would like to see our aspirations expressed in them."

Harminto said the decision not to attend the session was approved by PPP chairman Hamzah Haz, who is also the state minister of investment.

Robbani Thoha, also of PPP, said the move was not a boycott.

A number of PPP legislators told journalists they would not attend the bills deliberation sessions -- and thus not be held responsible for resulting legislations -- if Golkar tries to force its will over the crucial issues.

Separately, PDI legislator Y.B. Wiyanjono said his faction would make the same move as PPP.

Wiyanjono, the sole PDI legislator sitting in the earlier session of the Special Committee, said his faction was waiting to see ABRI's stance over the disputed matters. "If ABRI backs Golkar, PDI will follow in PPP's footsteps," Wiyanjono said.

Some analysts said PPP and PDI would not agree to a vote because Golkar, with its majority, would surely win.

In the 87-member House Special Committee, Golkar has 52 legislators, while PPP has 19, PDI has five and ABRI has 14.

There are three major issues being disputed.

One is the allocation of unelected seats to ABRI. PPP insists ABRI be given only 3 percent of seats in the House as well as in the provincial and regency legislatures. Golkar insists on 8 percent. PDI is undecided, while ABRI has not yet made its wishes clear.

Still disputed were the number of seats in the 700-member People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), and the number of regional as well as group representations in the MPR.

Regarding electoral districts, Golkar wanted the June 7 poll to be conducted at the regency level, while PPP and PDI argued for the provincial level.

Regarding a neutral bureaucracy, PPP said it wanted a government regulation in lieu of a law (Perpu) -- instead of a weaker government regulation (PP) -- to ban the 4.1 million civil servants from joining political parties.

Golkar, long reliant on the bureaucracy for its election victories, has argued that the political rights of the civil servants must not be infringed upon. (aan)