Working Committee for Aceh Draft Bill to be Open to the Public
Wednesday, 10 May, 2006 | 17:12 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: Although the House of Representatives (DPR) disciplinary rules states the discussion of every draft bill in the level of working committee is closed to the public, the National Mandate Party (PAN) faction wants the discussion of Aceh Government Draft Bill to be open.

“We want to support the process of formulating a decree that affects the general public being carried out openly and transparently,” said a PAN faction member, Ahmad Farhan Hamid.

Hamid was speaking during the discussion of Aceh Government Draft Bill as a decentralization model held by the partnership yesterday (9/5).

The other alternative, he went on to say, was for the working committee's activity still to be closed but invite a limited number of individuals.

Ferry Mursyidan Baldan, the Aceh Government Draft Bill Special Committee Head, said that in the discussion at the working committee level, it is permitted to invite individuals outside the committee.

“Members of the press can also join in on the condition they do not publicize anything. So it is only for background,” he said.

That is why Ferry hopes that NGO activists will not need to worry whether the discussions are open or closes.

He welcomes those who want to follow the developments of the Draft Bill discussion.

“But don't direct us,” said this politician from Golongan Karya (Golkar) Party faction.

Previously, a special committee member from Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction, Sutradara Gintings, also said he approved that the working committee be held open.

However, this must be decided together.

“But sometimes the balcony faction (members of the press and invited individuals) may also sometimes create pressure as regards the discussion process and a disturbance in terms of the clarity of the discussion,” said Gintings.

Hamid predicts that the Draft Bill discussion at the working committee level will start next week, dealing with authority distribution between the national government and Aceh, as well as matters regarding namings, anthem, and flag.

Yesterday the special committee debated the 30 percent education budget for Aceh.

Farhan and Rapiuddin Hamarung from the Democractic Pioneer Star Party and State Minister for Information and Communication, Sofyan Djalil, for example, asked the percentage not to be announced in order to prevent blunders.

While Nasir Jamil from the Justice and Welfare Party were of the opposite opinion.

Raden Rachmadi and Wahyudin Fahmi