So, all threats launched out of ambition for power will not only hurt the people but are also unethical in terms of the Indonesian political tradition."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesia Democratic Party Struggle (PDIP) has expressed criticism to the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) for its call for a boycott of the Peoples Consultative Assembly (MPR) meeting on presidential inauguration.

"PDIP has been disturbed by maneuvers aimed at hindering the inauguration of president-elect Joko Widodo," PDIPs deputy secretary general Hasto Kristiyanto said in a written statement received here Sunday.

He said PDIP also expressed concern over efforts to set up a parliamentary committee to investigate allegations of fraud in the presidential election on July 9, describing it as an excessive ambition for power.

Jakarta governor Joko Widodo or Jokowi as he is also popularly called is a PDIP cadre and has been declared by the General Election Commission (KPU) as the winner of the election with former vice president Jusuf Kalla as his running mate collecting 53.15 percent of the vote.

His rival, former military figure Prabowo Subianto who paired with former economic minister Hatta Rajasa, and collected 46.85 percent of the vote, however had rejected the decision citing massive and systematic frauds in a number of regions and had filed a lawsuit in connection with it with the Constitutional Court.

Hasto Kristiyanto said political maneuvers and various statements aimed at hindering Jokowi were not relevant with regard to democracy.

"We hope Gamari Sutrisno (PKS official) would open his eyes to see the reality that the people have elected Jokowi," he said.

PKS along with Golkar Party, the United Development Party (PPP), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Democrat Party, the Moon and Star Party (PBB) and the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) supported the Prabowo-Hatta pair in the election.

The Jokowi-JK duo meanwhile was supported by PDIP, the National Democrat Party (Nasdem), the Nation Awakening Party (PKB), the Peoples Conscience Party (Hanura) and the Indonesia Unity and Justice Party (PKPI).

Hasto who is also the spokesman of the Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla campaign team said in politics all parties must uphold the constitution which is the soul of democracy.

"So, all threats launched out of ambition for power will not only hurt the people but are also unethical in terms of the Indonesian political tradition," he said.

He said the PKS politician could read and learn the essence of Article 9 Paragraph 2 of the 1945 Constitution which states that in case MPR and DPR( House of Representatives) are unable to conduct sessions (including due to a boycott) the president and vice president-elect would be sworn in before the MPR leadership witnessed by the Supreme Court chief justice.

"The message of the constitution reaffirms that the peoples votes are the strongest legality for president and vice president-elect which cannot be annulled by partisan actions as has been conveyed by Gamari Sutrisno," he said.

He said even it had been recorded in the history that Bung Karno (first president) and Muhammad Hatta (first vice president) had been elected by acclamation at a Preparatory Committee for Indonesia Independence (PPKI) meeting.

"In view of that all parties had better study the constitution and the peoples feeling before making a statement," he said.

The Constitutional Court is scheduled to convene the session on the case on August 6 and the ruling over the case is expected to be issued on August 22.

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reporting by riza harahap

(T.R024/H-YH/H-YH)



(T.SYS/B/H-YH/A/H-YH) 03-08-2014 12:19:26

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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