The Jakarta Post , Jakarta Mon, 06/11/2007 7:22 AM
The proposed amendment of the 1945 Constitution to empower the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) has remained in doubt following strong opposition from major political parties. The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) has set Aug. 7 as deadline for DPD to secure support from one third of all 678 lawmakers to hold a plenary session -- with at least two thirds of them to approve the proposed amendment of the constitution. Lawmaker Yopie S. Batubara of North Sumatra recently talked with The Jakarta Post's Ridwan Max Sijabat about the issue.
Question: Why has DPD been out to battle for an amendment of the 1945 Constitution?
Answer: Almost all regions have been dissatisfied by the political representation monopolized by political parties.
They have been treated unfairly and their aspirations are not channeled properly.
Despite the regional (and special) autonomy, the central government has maintained its central role in dealing with regional domestic affairs, prompting several resource-rich provinces like Riau and East Kalimantan to demand special autonomy.
The way Jakarta and political parties are treating regions will likely lead more provinces to demand special autonomy and even separation from the Indonesian unitary state.
A rejection by the MPR to empower regional representatives could be the triggering factor for disintegration.
Why do regions feel mistreated?
Since the country's independence in 1945, regions have been treated as step-sons -- overexploited and extorted -- while the power has been centralized in Jakarta.
Despite regional autonomy implemented since 1999, regions could not grow robustly because the central government still maintained its dominant role trough presidential and ministerial decrees.
On paper, regions have their authority in the decentralized fields, but for example, for permits to open plantations, more than 2,000 hectares of area must be issued by the central government.
Regions have never been asked to prepare the state budget or be involved in the development of new provinces, regencies or municipalities.
They have never been involved in deliberating bills on education, health, mining or fiscal balance.
Regions have demanded justice not only between the central government and regional administrations but also between and outside of Java.
According to our study, the allocation of the state budget was not proportional with the distribution of population and territorial size.
Regions outside of Java, a home to 40 percent of the country's 230 million people, should gain 40 percent, instead of the current 20 percent of the state budget and foreign loans.
The key problem is that Jakarta has no confidence in regions and looks down on them.
Are you saying regions are behind DPD in fighting for the proposed amendment?
Exactly. And the proposed amendment aims firstly not to give power to regional representatives but to empower DPD to channel regional interests and to cement the Indonesian unitary state.
What is DPD asking for precisely?
DPD wants the constitution to give it limited legislative rights and budgetary control so it can let the parliament have a bicameral, or check-and-balance system.
DPD could not work effectively because the constitution gives us authority only to give social, legal and political considerations for bills without any certainty they will be accepted.
Like our colleagues in the U.S. and Australia, we want to be real senators in representing our own electoral districts and constituents. Unlike legislators, we have to work independently in our fight for those regions we are representing.
In fact, legislators have focused more on their fight for their own party's interests, which frequently go beyond the people's interests. This has been proven by the House of Representatives' bad performance.
Are you optimistic the MPR will hold a plenary session to amend the constitution?
Of course, because the DPD has won support from 228 political lawmakers -- which is two more than the minimum required.
Despite the withdrawal of support by the Democratic Party, the United Development Party and the Golkar Party, others such as the Prosperous Justice Party, the National Mandate Party and the National Awakening Party have pledged their full support.
What problems does DPD have in winning party support?
Political parties do not want to lose their monopoly in the process of making public policies and political recruitment.
They claim to be the only channel in the fight for the aspirations of the people and the regions.
For instance, the tension between DPD, the central government and other political parties has been made most clear through the suspension of the planned relocation of Polonia airport in Medan, North Sumatra, to Kuala Namo in Deli Serdang regency.
The central government approved the project recently after legislators from the provinces joined forces with regional representatives to press Jakarta.
What is your comment the various parties and their objection to the proposed timing for the amendment?
The objection based on timing is groundless.
The opposing parties are buying time to suspend the amendment and they will have similar reasons anytime the amendment is proposed.
For DPD, now is the appropriate time.
The amendment results should be included in the bill on construction of MPR, DPR, DPD and provincial and regency legislatures -- which are scheduled to be approved by the end of this year.
What will DPD do if the proposed amendment is rejected?
The DPD should be liquidated. It will continue wasting money from the state budget to pay regional representatives for nothing.
It has spent more than Rp 183 billion annually but gives no contribution to the regions or the people.
Regional representatives and their constituents will punish those opposing parties through the 2009 legislative and presidential elections.
Demand for further special autonomy, or even federalism among provinces will increase and threat of disintegration will be very real.
The proposed amendment of the 1945 Constitution to empower the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) has remained in doubt following strong opposition from major political parties. The People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) has set Aug. 7 as deadline for DPD to secure support from one third of all 678 lawmakers to hold a plenary session -- with at least two thirds of them to approve the proposed amendment of the constitution. Lawmaker Yopie S. Batubara of North Sumatra recently talked with The Jakarta Post's Ridwan Max Sijabat about the issue.
Question: Why has DPD been out to battle for an amendment of the 1945 Constitution?
Answer: Almost all regions have been dissatisfied by the political representation monopolized by political parties.
They have been treated unfairly and their aspirations are not channeled properly.
Despite the regional (and special) autonomy, the central government has maintained its central role in dealing with regional domestic affairs, prompting several resource-rich provinces like Riau and East Kalimantan to demand special autonomy.
The way Jakarta and political parties are treating regions will likely lead more provinces to demand special autonomy and even separation from the Indonesian unitary state.
A rejection by the MPR to empower regional representatives could be the triggering factor for disintegration.
Why do regions feel mistreated?
Since the country's independence in 1945, regions have been treated as step-sons -- overexploited and extorted -- while the power has been centralized in Jakarta.
Despite regional autonomy implemented since 1999, regions could not grow robustly because the central government still maintained its dominant role trough presidential and ministerial decrees.
On paper, regions have their authority in the decentralized fields, but for example, for permits to open plantations, more than 2,000 hectares of area must be issued by the central government.
Regions have never been asked to prepare the state budget or be involved in the development of new provinces, regencies or municipalities.
They have never been involved in deliberating bills on education, health, mining or fiscal balance.
Regions have demanded justice not only between the central government and regional administrations but also between and outside of Java.
According to our study, the allocation of the state budget was not proportional with the distribution of population and territorial size.
Regions outside of Java, a home to 40 percent of the country's 230 million people, should gain 40 percent, instead of the current 20 percent of the state budget and foreign loans.
The key problem is that Jakarta has no confidence in regions and looks down on them.
Are you saying regions are behind DPD in fighting for the proposed amendment?
Exactly. And the proposed amendment aims firstly not to give power to regional representatives but to empower DPD to channel regional interests and to cement the Indonesian unitary state.
What is DPD asking for precisely?
DPD wants the constitution to give it limited legislative rights and budgetary control so it can let the parliament have a bicameral, or check-and-balance system.
DPD could not work effectively because the constitution gives us authority only to give social, legal and political considerations for bills without any certainty they will be accepted.
Like our colleagues in the U.S. and Australia, we want to be real senators in representing our own electoral districts and constituents. Unlike legislators, we have to work independently in our fight for those regions we are representing.
In fact, legislators have focused more on their fight for their own party's interests, which frequently go beyond the people's interests. This has been proven by the House of Representatives' bad performance.
Are you optimistic the MPR will hold a plenary session to amend the constitution?
Of course, because the DPD has won support from 228 political lawmakers -- which is two more than the minimum required.
Despite the withdrawal of support by the Democratic Party, the United Development Party and the Golkar Party, others such as the Prosperous Justice Party, the National Mandate Party and the National Awakening Party have pledged their full support.
What problems does DPD have in winning party support?
Political parties do not want to lose their monopoly in the process of making public policies and political recruitment.
They claim to be the only channel in the fight for the aspirations of the people and the regions.
For instance, the tension between DPD, the central government and other political parties has been made most clear through the suspension of the planned relocation of Polonia airport in Medan, North Sumatra, to Kuala Namo in Deli Serdang regency.
The central government approved the project recently after legislators from the provinces joined forces with regional representatives to press Jakarta.
What is your comment the various parties and their objection to the proposed timing for the amendment?
The objection based on timing is groundless.
The opposing parties are buying time to suspend the amendment and they will have similar reasons anytime the amendment is proposed.
For DPD, now is the appropriate time.
The amendment results should be included in the bill on construction of MPR, DPR, DPD and provincial and regency legislatures -- which are scheduled to be approved by the end of this year.
What will DPD do if the proposed amendment is rejected?
The DPD should be liquidated. It will continue wasting money from the state budget to pay regional representatives for nothing.
It has spent more than Rp 183 billion annually but gives no contribution to the regions or the people.
Regional representatives and their constituents will punish those opposing parties through the 2009 legislative and presidential elections.
Demand for further special autonomy, or even federalism among provinces will increase and threat of disintegration will be very real.
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