Vested interests mar amendment of Constitution: NGO coalition
Vested interests mar amendment of Constitution: NGO coalition
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Activists from various non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
renewed on Wednesday their demand for an independent
constitutional commission in place of the People's Consultative
Assembly (MPR) which they deemed incapable of amending the 1945
Constitution in accordance with democratic reforms.
They claimed that amending the Constitution, which was done
three times recently, had failed to accommodate people's
aspirations, as it was only in the interest of the politicians.
The criticisms were aired at a hearing between the Coalition
of NGOs for a New Constitution and the Assembly's ad hoc
committee in charge of constitutional amendments.
"The MPR has amended the constitution three times, but the
process was full of shortcomings. Therefore, we are pushing for
the next amendment to be different," said legal advocate Bambang
Widjojanto.
The MPR made amendments to the Constitution in October 1999,
August 2000 and last October.
Bambang said an independent commission, if given the job to
formulate the amendment, would be better suited as they would be
free from ulterior motives.
The coalition aired similar demands last October, but MPR
turned a deaf ear.
Underscoring his criticism, Bambang added that the whole
process in the previous amendments lacked a frame of reference,
which had resulted in less than effective changes.
Also present at the hearing were Smita Notosusanto and Hadar
Gumay of the Centre for Electoral Reform (Cetro), Munir of the
Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), Teten Masduki of
Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW), Sandra Moniaga of Huma and
several other activists.
The hearing was part of series of meetings started in early
February. It was part of the ad hoc committee's efforts to seek
public input to appease citizens who are wary of back-room
political deals influencing the process rather than a long-term
viable amendment consistent with the reform agenda begun in 1998.
After the hearing, the 45-strong ad hoc team will present
their views, but the final decision rests solely with the
Assembly.
The ad hoc committee will have to finish the amendment process
in August, when the Assembly legislators convene for the Annual
Session. The committee is amending at least seven articles,
including a crucial article on religious issues.
J.E. Sahetapy, a scholar turned politician, said the criticism
reflected the thoughts of intellectuals.
"I will appeal to my fellow politicians to follow up on the
ideas the activists have submitted," said Sahetapy a member of
the ad hoc committee representing the Indonesian Democratic Party
of Struggle.
In the last three phases of the process, the ad hoc committee
will set up a forum of consultation with a team of experts before
putting the final touches on the amended articles.
Many have suspected that the team of experts comprised figures
who have close links to political parties and may not therefore
be totally objective.
Sahetapy shared his concerns on the quality of the discussion
taking place in the consultation meetings with the experts.
"Well, it was more or less like a chat in a cafe," he told The
Jakarta Post.