Scholars support call for constitutional commission
Scholars support call for constitutional commission
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Scholars from various groups leant support for widespread
demands for an independent commission to amend the 1945
Constitution on Thursday, saying the amendments currently being
considered by legislators ignore people's wishes.
One of the scholars, Tommi Legowo of the Centre for Strategic
and International Studies (CSIS), criticized People's
Consultative Assembly (MPR) legislators for allocating only 27
out of 136 effective days to accommodate the public's aspirations
until they complete the fourth amendment this August.
In comparison, Tommi added, the legislators will hold a 49-
day (36 percent) series of sessions between themselves, including
closed-door lobbying.
"It is very likely that the amendment process will go against
people's aspirations because most of the deliberation will be
done secretly," Tommi said at a hearing with members of the
Assembly's ad hoc committee for constitutional amendments.
The third amendment last year was marked by closed-door
lobbying, sparking allegations that the final results carried
political interests of each faction in the Assembly.
Unanimous support for a direct presidential election last
year, for example, was hailed by many as a breakthrough in the
country's political system. The Assembly, however, failed to
agree on a proposal to hold a second-round vote if no
presidential and vice presidential candidates managed to obtain a
majority vote.
Tommi maintained that an amendment process that involved
political struggle would not result in the creation of a
constitution that belonged to all people.
Legislator Harun Kamil, who presided over the hearing, quickly
clarified, saying that the time frame for the fourth amendment
should not be stringently adhered to.
"In fact, we will allow and welcome any delegations who want
to articulate their aspirations," he said.
After finishing a series of hearings with various societal
groups, mainly from Jakarta and neighboring towns, on March 5,
members of the Assembly ad hoc committee will tour other towns
across the country between March 6 through March 10.
During the five-day trip, the legislators will visit
universities in Medan (North Sumatra), Palembang (South Sumatra),
Bandung (West Java), Semarang (Central Java), Surabaya (East
Java), Makassar (South Sulawesi), Banjarmasin (South Kalimantan)
and Bali.
The visit aims at collecting suggestions from people
throughout the country. The aspirations of the people will be
deliberated in a series of closed-door meetings before possible
endorsement at the Assembly's Annual Session in August.
Fellow scholar Anton Djawamaku meanwhile reminded that a
constitution was a social contract between the state and its
citizens.
"Under the contract, the citizens voluntarily give up some of
their rights and respect state regulations. On the other hand,
the state has to respect the rights of its citizens and be
prepared for checks and balances.
"It is very relevant that amendment of the Constitution be
offered to an independent commission that will accommodate all
elements in society," he said.
Adi Sasono and Umar Juoro of the Center for Information and
Development Studies (Cides) and scholars from the Center for
Information of National Policy Studies (Cinaps) were also present
at the hearing. They urged legislators to make people's welfare
the top priority in their deliberation of constitutional
amendments.