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)