The PPP saga

The PPP saga

The National Development Party (PPP) may be excluded from the
next general election if it is found to have invested its money
in the controversial agribusiness firm PT Qurnia Subur Alam Raya
(QSAR).

According to Law No. 2/1999 on political parties, a party,
which is a nonprofit organization, is not allowed to have shares
in a profit-oriented company.

If found guilty, PPP will have to give up its right to
participate in the election.

The law also requires a political party to report to the
Supreme Court its financial position at year's end and every 15
days before and 30 days after a general election. If the party
violates this rule the Supreme Court can impose an administrative
sanction by stopping fund disbursement. The law is aimed at
preventing political parties from engaging in money politics.

Control over political party financial spending is crucial,
and this is another responsibility for the Supreme Court.

Therefore, part of the control over political parties has been
shared with the Constitutional Commission, as stated in the third
amendment of the 1945 Constitution.

Now a financial problem has emerged with PPP, but the Supreme
Court cannot get involved in it. On the basis of this incident we
are becoming aware that the law on political parties is quite
weak.

-- Media Indonesia

JP/NATIONAL NEWS

Li Peng's visit

Not only is the ongoing visit of People's Republic of China
(PRC) parliamentary speaker Li Peng to Indonesia important in
terms of bilateral relations, it is also interesting to observe
from the perspective of China's own problems.

Li Peng visited Indonesia less than one month after Taiwanese
Vice President Annette Lu. As host, Indonesia welcomed Lu and Li
Peng openly. Indonesia has also reiterated its support for the
one-China policy.

The presence of Li Peng for five days since Sept. 8 in
Indonesia has been a display of diplomacy taken by PRC after
canceling its plan to buy liquefied natural gas from Indonesia.
Taiwan seems to have taken advantage of the canceled purchase of
natural gas. Taiwan indicated that it was ready to buy LNG from
Indonesia, showing that the former's position is in contrast with
China's.

In terms of diplomatic measures taken by Indonesia, the
foreign visits by Indonesian leaders are questionable. The
overseas trips made by both former president Abdurrahman Wahid
and incumbent President Megawati are considered unsatisfactory as
the country continues to suffer from myriad problems.

-- Kompas