House schedules plenary sessions for SBY on Iran, mudflow - East Java Mudflow Information Center

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House schedules plenary sessions for SBY on Iran, mudflow

Friday, 06 July 2007

(Originally published by The Jakarta Post in July 6, 2007)

The House of Representatives has scheduled plenary sessions for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to address lawmakers about the administration's support for UN sanctions on Iran and its handling of the Sidoarjo mudflow.

House Deputy Speaker Zainal Ma'arif of the Reform Star Party said Thursday the House would ask the President to answer questions about Iran on July 10 and the mudflow on July 17.

But, he quickly added, the President could delegate the duty of attending the sessions to Cabinet ministers.

In a plenary session held June 5 to discuss the Iran sanctions, the House abruptly ended the session because Yudhoyono sent ministers to represent him rather than appearing himself.

"We will send the invitations tonight, or tomorrow morning at the latest. During our planning session, there was a tendency to want to require the presence of the President. But it is impossible to convey that in an institutional letter. We are not softening our stance, but we will follow procedures," said Zainal.

He said if Yudhoyono chose to send ministers to represent him at the sessions, it would be up to the House political party factions to respond individually.

"The President has already received explanations from each faction during a recent consultative meeting. So, he should understand what the factions want and what the House wants."

Golkar Party legislator Yuddhy Chrisnandi said most factions clearly expressed their desire to have the President appear in person at the sessions.

He said direct explanations from the President would make for good political communication.

However, he said, the President has the right to delegate the duty to ministers and the House could not force his presence.

"Golkar Party will give its highest respect to the President if he decides to come. We will secure the session and guard the state's symbols, including the President, which means we will not question what the President explains, and we will not interrupt him; that's our political stance," said Yuddhy.

Zainal, however, said the House had no mechanisms for preventing members from speaking during a plenary session.

Chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) faction, Lukman Hakim Syaifuddin, said the House could not force Yudhoyono to appear.

"Our letter to the President ... basically invites him to present information and give an explanation," said Lukman.

He said a recent consultation meeting involved only the President and the House leadership.

"So, the consultation meeting can't replace an interpellation meeting, because the explanation must be given at a plenary session.

"We will hear the explanation. We can't decide what our political stance will be yet, because we haven't heard the official explanation," he said.

Alvin Lie, a member of the National Mandate Party (PAN) faction, said his party would listen to the administration's explanations, either delivered by the President or by a minister.

"Actually, we expect the President to be present. But no matter, the procedure must continue and in the end we must decide whether the explanation is acceptable or not," he said.

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