TNI/Police to leave MPR after 2009

TNI/Police to leave MPR after 2009

JAKARTA (JP): People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Commission
B deliberating draft decrees, proposed on Sunday that the
presence of the military and police in the highest law-making
body would be maintained until 2009.

The proposal came after mounting criticism lodged against
Assembly members, who are convened for their first ever annual
session, for their reluctance to put an end to the political role
of the armed forces.

The MPR, through Commission A for constitutional amendments,
is also deliberating an amendment to the 1945 Constitution which
will allow the military and police to stay in the legislative
body after their presence in the House of Representatives ends in
2004.

"We have reached an agreement to keep the military and the
police in the Assembly until 2009. We're concerned that the
servicemen may not be ready to use their rights to vote,"
Commission B chairman Rambe Kamarulzaman of the Golkar faction
told reporters.

"It's only natural for them to be represented in the MPR
because they do not vote and are not allowed to stand for
election in general elections," he added.

The final decision will be taken at an Assembly plenary
session on Tuesday.

Rambe said that apart from the Golkar Party faction, the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction
also agreed to give a further chance to the military and police
to play a role in the MPR.

The Crescent Star faction stated during Sunday's meeting that
despite its approval for the draft, it was important to set an
exact deadline for the pull-out of servicemen from the MPR and
the House of Representatives (DPR).

DPR Speaker Akbar Tandjung, meanwhile, shared the commission's
opinion, saying that the MPR still needed the contribution of the
military and police during the transitional period.

"We can let them go if our civil society is already strong
enough and if the demands for the servicemen to be more
professional require them to leave the political stage," he said.

Sabam Sirait of PDI Perjuangan, however, denied that there was
any horse-trading between the military and civil politicians
behind the decision to maintain the military and police presence
in the Assembly.

"There were no deals at all. It was us who set the directions
of the military rather than the military setting the directions
of the people," the senior politician stressed.

Tayo Tarmadi of the TNI/National Police faction said that both
institutions were ready to vacate their seats in the Assembly at
any time.

"It's been agreed that we'll stay until 2009 in the Assembly.
The question now is whether the servicemen and the people are
also ready for this," he said.

"We can't do it (leave the political arena) now because we're
concerned that military and police personnel will become divided
into various political groupings if they are granted the right to
vote."

Commission B also proposed the establishment of a body, the
name of which remained undecided, to ensure the police's
independence and integrity after its separation from the
military.

Mutammimul Ula of the Reform faction said the body would be
responsible for preventing the police being subjected to outside
interference.

"The body would advise the President on directions and
policies for the National Police. It would also recommend
candidates for chief of the National Police to the President," he
said.

Mutammimul likened the planned body to the Ministry of Defense
which deals with administrative matters involving the TNI. (nvn)