Working Committee Not to Invite Acehnese Figures
Thursday, 25 May, 2006 | 13:39 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The Working Committee for the Aceh Government Draft Bill has finally decided not to invite Acehnese figures to its meetings.

“The point is we don't want there to be the impression as if they are spectators at the working committee's meetings,” said Ferry Mursyidan Baldan, a member of the Working Committee concurrently Chairman of Aceh Government Draft Bill Special Committee, after one of the working committee's meetings.

Ferry said that notwithstanding this decision, the working committee would still publicize decisions taken through the media.

“We will also hand over reports to representatives of the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) in Aceh as also the society figures who have been monitoring the development of Aceh Government Draft Bill discussions,” said this politician from the Golkar Party.

The total of matters to be discussed by the Working Committee is 514, or one third of all the matters discussed by the Special Committee.

“If the Special Committee discusses these in 22 days, then I estimate the Working Committee will be able to accomplish theirs in seven or eight days,” he said.

Previously, Bachtiar Aly, an Acehnese figure, had asked for the Working Committee's meetings not to be closed to the public.

“If they are, at least not completely,” he said.

Raden Rachmadi