Subagyo, Sjafrie become MPR members
Subagyo, Sjafrie become MPR members
JAKARTA (JP): House Speaker Harmoko swore in yesterday 38 new
members of the House of Representatives/People's Consultative
Assembly (DPR/MPR), including Army Chief of Staff Gen. Subagyo
Hadisiswoyo and former Jakarta military chief Sjafrie
Sjamsoeddin, as part of the preparations for the special MPR
session in November.
Antara quoted Harmoko as saying yesterday that all vacant
legislative positions in the 1,000-seat MPR would be filled
before the session commences Nov. 10.
The MPR will convene to prepare for the general election
scheduled by the middle of next year. Legislators appointed in
the poll will meet in December to elect a new president and vice
president.
President B.J. Habibie, through Minister of Home Affairs
Syarwan Hamid, will submit drafts of three political laws to the
House soon after the legislature opens its sitting session next
Monday. The draft laws are on general elections, political
parties and the structure and function of the MPR, DPR and
provincial legislative councils (DPRD).
New members
Of the new MPR members, 16 belong to the Regional
Representatives faction and 21 to the Armed Forces faction.
In addition, I Made Gusti Ngurah Bagus replaced I Made Bandem
in the MPR ad hoc working committee II in charge of MPR decrees.
Ad hoc committee I oversaw establishment of Broad Guidelines of
State Policies.
Also sworn in yesterday were Achmad Rustandi from the
Indonesian Democratic Party, filling the seat left vacant by Hari
Sabarno, a member of the Armed Forces faction promoted to MPR
deputy chairman; H Ismunandar as member of the MPR working
committee, replacing R. Sudaryanto who has been appointed a
member of the Supreme Advisory Council; and Prof. Lilik
Hendradjaja, replacing HZB Palaguna of the Regional
Representatives faction.
Golkar faction's Philips Wona from remote Irian Jaya province,
who failed to take his oath last July 24 due to transportation
problems, joined yesterday's ceremony.
Lively debates are expected once the bills reach the House
because the documents are said to introduce significant changes
to the repressive political system put in place by former
president Soeharto. Among changes sought are:
* Multiparties: The existing regulated three political
organization system will be changed, and a genuine multiparty
system expected to be introduced.
* Contesting and non-contesting political parties: Only
parties with a certain amount of popular support will be allowed
to contest the general elections. Others will remain free to
operate as a party but not to have candidates in the poll.
* Financial accountability: Each party must submit regular
reports audited by public accountants on its financial status,
including sources of support. Reports will be submitted to the
General Elections Commission. Audited reports must be submitted
before and after elections.
* Representation: Armed Forces' representation, which was
reduced to 75 from 100 in 1995, will be further reduced to 55.
The DPR members will be 550 and MPR will be 700.
* ABRI/Civil servants: Armed Forces personnel and officers
will not have the right to vote, be elected or join a political
party. Civil servants will remain eligible to vote but will not
be permitted to seek election or join a political party.
Also yesterday, Harmoko said the working committee of the MPR
would decide whether former president Soeharto would be asked to
present an account of his leadership during the MPR session.
"The agenda of the special MPR session will be discussed by
the MPR working committee," he said. "Just wait for the results
of the meeting of the MPR working committee... Both old and new
members of the committee may have opinions or suggestions."
National Front, a group of retired generals and former
officials critical of the government, recently demanded that
Soeharto appear before the MPR session to account for his 32-year
rule.
Soeharto resigned from the presidency last May 21. (swe)