"We will file a request for the review of Law No. 38/ 2008 on the ratification of the ASEAN Charter because it runs counter to the Constitution," chairman of the Executive Board of the Indonesian Farmers Union (DPP SPI), Henry Saragih said here on Wednesday.
He said the ratification of the ASEAN Charter by the enactment of Law 38/2008 was not in line with article 33 of the 1945 Constitution.
Henry said the ASEAN Charter perpetuated various forms of free trade agreements which would disturb the nation`s economic sovereignty.
M Riza Damanik, secretary general of the People`s Coalition for Fisheries Justice (Kiara), concurred, saying the ratification of the ASEAN charter legitimized the disappearance of Indonesia`s economic independence.
Riza said that the free trade mechanism which was supported by the ASEAN Charter had caused the country to import large volumes of salt while it had vast coastal areas.
In the meantime, researcher of the Institute Global Justice (IGJ), Salamuddin Daeng said the judicial review would refer to article 33 of the Constitution which said the economy should be cultivated as a common endeavor and on the basis of family spirit.
He said that the essence of the article suggested that Indonesia`s economy should not be cultivated under the mechanism of free market competition.
Competition in the free market mechanism would continue to reinforce the position of the strong and continue to weaken the position of the weak.
(Uu.A014/HAJM)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
