Regional representatives threaten to walk out

Regional representatives threaten to walk out

JAKARTA (JP): The regional representatives threatened on
Friday to walk out of the upcoming special session of the
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) if their bid for
reinstatement was rejected.

Hatta Mustafa, who represents Lampung province, said the
Assembly should meet the regional representatives' demand, which
had gained support from 103 out of 130 of its members.

"The walkout will be our last resort to force the Assembly to
accept the proposal. We have agreed to walk out of the special
session if the proposal is rejected," he said after the forum's
congress on Friday.

He added that the regional representatives had fulfilled all
conditions required by the Assembly to set up a separate faction.

The Assembly's internal ruling requires the approval of at
least 25 legislators to establish a separate faction. All
factions have the right to present their political views and
aspirations before plenary sessions.

Hatta, also deputy chairman of the Forum of Regional
Representatives (FUD), said the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and the Golkar Party, two major
factions in the Assembly, had opposed the reestablishment of the
regional representatives faction because they feared losing a
considerable number of seats at the MPR. The majority of the
regional representatives are also members of the two largest
factions.

"Despite their fears, they must bear in mind that the absence
of a regional representative faction in the Assembly is against
the Constitution and the Assembly's internal ruling," Hatta said.

Golkar won 62 Assembly seats from regional representatives,
while PDI Perjuangan won 40.

According to the Constitution, the 700-member Assembly
comprises the House of Representatives' legislators, interest
group representatives and regional representatives.

The regional representatives faction was dissolved during the
1999 general session of the MPR, but the 65-member interest group
faction was maintained.

Oesman Sapta, representing the West Kalimantan province, said
the walkout threat was serious.

"We are serious about the walkout. Let the people and regions
assess whether our demand makes sense and is feasible, and know
what the political parties will be fighting for during the
special session," he said.

He insisted the regional representatives had the right to
establish their own faction in the Assembly as it was guaranteed
by the Constitution.

Laode K., representing the South Sulawesi province, said
political parties should not claim that regional representatives
are part of their factions in the Assembly as the representatives
were elected by provincial legislative councils.

"We were elected by provincial legislative councils and not
political parties. We do not represent political parties, but
provinces in the Assembly," he said.

Meanwhile, Jacob Tobing, chairman of the Assembly's ad hoc
subcommittee I, admitted that the dissolution of the regional
representatives faction was a mistake, but he underscored that
they secured their seats in the Assembly with the support of
political parties.

"It is a mistake that should be corrected," he said, adding
that the mistake had to do with the 1999 law on the composition
of the Assembly, House, and provincial and regional legislatures.

Rambe Kamarulzaman, a Golkar legislator, said his faction
would oppose the regional representatives' proposal to
reestablish their own faction.

"It's impossible for regional representatives to reinstate
their faction unless the 1999 law is amended," he said.

Amendments to political laws are being currently discussed by
the House. (rms)