Respect freedom and adhere to rules, stresses Akbar

JAKARTA (JP): House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung alerted the nation on Wednesday that the country's current regulation system is not adequate for the creation of a new and democratic Indonesia.

Opening the plenary session, ending the House's recess period, Akbar said that excessive freedom had created negative influences during the country's transitional period after the emergence of the reform movement in 1998.

"A political competition conducted with unclear regulations, a weak democratic institution and unconfirmed political norms have created a vague transitional period. And all regulations can be interpreted according to independent political interests," Akbar said in the speech.

"Political institutions that are the main requirement for political consolidation have yet to find a solid structure," he remarked.

Akbar reminded that, to create a democratic society the people should comply with certain rules, such as tolerance, a willingness to compromise, and faith in democratic legitimacy.

Referring to the House plenary session on April 30, which will discuss the issuance of a second memorandum of censure against President Abdurrahman Wahid, Akbar said that the public should accept the whole memorandum issue as a routine constitutional process.

"Therefore, I call on the public to stop all kinds of efforts that could ignite anarchic actions and create public fear, as we do not want dissension between the country's elements," he remarked.

During the next session period, the House hopes to process some 23 bills, including the draft on special autonomy for the restive province of Aceh which is expected to be finalized during the earlier weeks of the session period.

Other priorities include three drafts on intellectual property rights, three drafts on state finances and 12 drafts on the establishment of city administrations within eight provinces.

The House will also continue the discussion of several drafts submitted in the last session period, including the special autonomy bill proposed for Irian Jaya.

Regarding the large number of drafts to be discussed, Akbar said he hoped all legislators would attend the discussions and actively participate in their deliberation.

"We have to remember that legislation is our main duty and should be the major priority," Akbar added.

Many legislators are regularly absent from hearings or discussions at the House without any clear reason.(dja)