House sets up fuel policy investigation committee

Desy Nurhayati ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Fri, 06/27/2008 10:06 AM  |  National

In a plenary session Tuesday, the House of Representatives invoked its right to question government policy over the fuel price rise, and will set up a team to investigate the rise.

"The inquiry committee will comprise 50 lawmakers. This is clearly a big committee and shows we are dealing with a big problem," House Speaker Agung Laksono said Thursday.

He said all political parties would be represented on the committee, based on the number of House seats they held. The committee will be officially established on July 1, when members will meet to appoint a chairman and formulate working programs.

Lawmakers voted to use their inquiry rights to investigate the government's policy for raising fuel prices in May, which resulted in violent protests across the capital.

The House decision, however, has raised questions of whether the investigations will eventually lead to the impeachment of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, as was the case in 2001 with former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid.

Agung said the House had no intentions of impeaching the President, despite their opposing opinions on the issue. He said theoretically the inquiry right would only lead to impeachment if the committee found Yudhoyono violated any existing laws.

"I don't see any parties willing to go that far. They are more focused on the government's decision to raise fuel prices, which was supposed to be a last resort," he said.

"So we're asking why they didn't try other options, including conversion of energy or boosting oil and gas production."

Agung said impeachment was not a matter to be taken lightly, and would require the involvement of the Constitutional Court.

Jimly Asshidiqie, head of the Constitutional Court, said fears of an eventual impeachment were groundless.

"The inquiry right is the House's right to carry out an investigation. But this will be an investigation of government policy, not of an individual person," he said.

When asked what would happen if the investigation found the President was in violation of regulations, Jimly said "that is another problem".

He urged the House to publicly disclose all policies to be investigated so there would be no misunderstandings about the issue.

Amien Rais, former People's Consultative Assembly speaker, praised the House decision to use the inquiry right.

"This is good news for us. Hopefully, this will disclose the full range of mysteries and scandals in the government's fuel policies," he said.

He called on university students, responsible for recent violent protests, and the media to continue monitoring the House investigating committee.

"We must monitor the committee's consistency because there is a possibility the government will try to manipulate or influence the team," Amien said.

State Secretary Hatta Radjasa said the government was prepared to fully explain its fuel price policies to the House. (alf/trw)

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