Truth commission bill discussed
Truth commission bill discussed
JAKARTA: A special committee at the House of Representatives on
Wednesday began deliberating a bill on establishing a truth and
reconciliation commission.
Legislator Sidharto Danusubroto of the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) was selected chairman of the
committee, which was set up on July 9.
The bill will, among other things, rule about setting up a
commission to settle gross human rights violations and to
facilitate reconciliations.
He was accompanied by Akil Mochtar and Sofwan Chudorie from
Golkar and the National Awakening Party factions respectively.
Sidharto called on the 50-strong committee to be intensive
during deliberations and to finish the bill before the end of the
legislative period in September next year.
Committee member Hajriyanto Y. Thohari of the Golkar faction
suggested the committee allow the public to give input for the
discussion. - JP
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National-scene
Court seeks a secretary-general
JP/4/secretary
Court seeks a secretary-general
JAKARTA: The newly established Constitutional Court has chosen
three candidates for the post of secretary-general, chairman
Jimly Asshidiqie said Wednesday.
The three were Abdul Wahid, Oka Mahendra, both senior
officials at the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, and
Janedri M. Ghaffar, a senior official at the secretariat of the
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).
Jimly said the three candidates was chosen during the court's
internal meeting on Tuesday.
"The three names will be submitted to President Megawati
Soekarnoputri on Thursday, and we hope she can choose one of them
as secretary-general immediately," Jimly told reporters.
The Constitutional Court was established last month and is
tasked with resolving conflicts between state institutions,
settling election disputes, and dissolving political parties.
--JP
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Scene-akbar-judge
New justice named in Akbar's case
JP/4/justice
New justice named in Akbar's case
JAKARTA: Judge Abdurrahman Saleh has been appointed to replace
colleague Laica Marzuki to sit on the panel of five judges
hearing the graft case of Akbar Tandjung, the Speaker of the
House of Representatives.
Chief Justice Bagir Manan said on Tuesday that he and Paulus
E. Lotulung, who heads the panel of judges, had agreed to appoint
Abdurrahman, a lawyer who once led the Indonesia Legal Aid
Foundation (YLBHI), as one of five judges handling Akbar's
appeal.
"The appointment was based on his competency and knowledge,"
he told reporters in his office.
Laica is a judge in the newly established Constitutional
Court, where he has been elected deputy chairman.
The appeal of Akbar was examined earlier by four judges,
including Laica.
As chairman of the panel, Paulus would be the last to examine
the case. After Paulus examines it, the five judges would hold
discussions before arriving at a final decision.
The issuance of the verdict, however, would take longer to
allow Abdurrahman examine the case. Bagir had said that the court
was expected to present its verdict on Akbar's case in August or
September this year.
Akbar, who is also the chairman of the Golkar Party, has been
sentenced to three years in prison for misappropriating Rp 40
billion in Bulog funds. He remains free pending the decision of
the Supreme Court. -- JP
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Scene-breast-cancer-up
Breast cancer cases up by 5%
JP/4/breast
Breast cancer cases up by 5%
JAKARTA: The number of women suffering from breast cancer is
increasing by 5 percent every year, said Indah Sri Anggarini from
Dharmais Hospital in Jakarta, on Tuesday.
She said breast cancer represents the most common of all
cancers among women in the country, followed by cervical cancer.
"Breast cancer is mostly caused by a change in lifestyle among
women, especially those in big cities," Indah said.
She said smoking, genetic factors, eating too much fast-food,
and stress were some of the causes of breast cancer in the
country.
She did not give any figures on the number of breast cancer
patients in the country. --JP
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Scene-party-election
10 more parties register with KPU
JP/4/party
10 more parties register with KPU
JAKARTA: The Golkar Party and the Crescent Star Party (PBB)
are among 10 political parties which have registered with the
General Elections Commission (KPU) to contest the 2004 polls.
Golkar officials picked up a registration form on Tuesday,
while PBB, the Democratic Catholic Party (PKD), the Indonesian
Union Party (PSI), the Justice and Unity Party of Indonesia (PKP
Indonesia), the Crescent Party of Reform (PBR), the Love the
Nation Democratic Party (PDKB), the National Concern Party
(PKPB), the Love the Nation Peace Promoter Party (PPDKB) and the
Prosperous and Peace Party (PDS) had done so earlier.
The registration period began on July 9 and will last until
Oct. 9. Only parties which have passed an initial screening by
the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights can register with the
KPU, the institution authorized to declare a party eligible to
contest the election. --JP
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Scene-PDIP-legislators
PDI-P to select legislative aspirants
JP/4/PDIP
PDI-P to pick legislative candidates
JAKARTA: The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) will select its legislative candidates for the 2004-
2009 term between Sept. 15 and Dec. 5.
The party's deputy secretary general Pramono Anung Wibowo said
on Tuesday that mostly rank-and-file party members would make the
original suggestions, but all final decisions would rest with
party's central executive board.
"The central executive board will complete the list of
candidates by Dec. 22," Pramono said after the party's weekly
meeting presided over by chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri.
The selection process will run simultaneously across the
country, Pramono said. --JP
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Scene-PPP-coalition
Three parties join PPP for polls
JP/4/PPP
Three parties join PPP for polls
JAKARTA: Three tiny Muslim-based parties have decided to join
forces with the United Development Party (PPP) for the 2004
general elections.
The Nahdlatul Ulama Party (PNU) led by Syukron Makmun, the New
Masyumi Party (PMB) led by Ridwan Saidi and the New Indonesia
Party (PIB) led by Syaiful Anwar announced their parties'
coalition with PPP during a meeting with its chairman Hamzah Haz
on Tuesday.
"As of now, the supporters or these parties are officially
part of our party," PPP deputy secretary general Emron Pangkapi
said after the meeting.
He said another four parties would follow suit and would
further strengthen PPP in the election. PPP finished third behind
the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle and Golkar in the
1999 election. --JP