GOVERNMENT'S DECISION TO ISSUE PERPPU GETS MIXED REACTIONS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, July 15 (Antara) - The government's step to issue a Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) to deal with mass organizations, which were considered to be against the country's Pancasila ideology, has received mixed reactions.         On July 12, 2017, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto announced the issuance of Perppu N0. 2 Year of 2017 on Amendment of Law No. 17 Year of 2013 on Mass Organizations (Ormas).          The Perppu was issued to prevent the emergence of mass organizations, which are opposed to Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution, and to provide legal basis for the government to dissolve such a negligent organization.         However, apart from those who supported the government's step, some others criticized it. Therefore, the government on Saturday (July 15), through Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, explained that it has strong reasons to issue the Perppu.          "The government has three main considerations for issuing the Perppu. By issuing the Perppu, the government's policy will be in line with the decision of the Constitutional Court Number 138 / PUU-VII / 2009, which suggests that such a Perppu could be issued based on the existence of a compelling situation to solve legal problems quickly based on the law," Kumolo stated.

WILL HOUSE ACCEPT PERPPU ON DIRECT LOCAL ELECTIONS?

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Dec 13 (Antara) - Political 'battles' marked all of 2014 in Indonesian politics, which began with campaigns for a legislative election on April 9, as well as a presidential race on July 9.          The elections divided the Indonesian people into two opposing camps. After the legislative elections, two political alliances were formed, one supported the Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla presidential pair nominated by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) while the other backed the Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa presidential ticket nominated by the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra).          While the Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla camp won the presidential race, the Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa alliance controlled at least 292 of the 560 Parliamentary seats.          Then, the political 'battles' waged to win popular support shifted to the Parliament.          Legislators of political parties, joining a coalition with PDIP, formed the Great Indonesia Coalition (KIH) in the House of Representatives (DPR), while lawmakers of political parties in alliance with Gerindra set up the White-Red Coalition (KMP).