Indonesian Scientists Call for Restoration of People's Sovereignty

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - A number of Indonesian scientists from various universities called for the restoration of democracy  and the people's sovereignty in the operation of state affairs.

"We were born from the people by the people  and for the people. Therefore, people's sovereignty is the soul, spirit and the pivotal strength of the state,"  was among the moral calls by the group of scientists .

The scientists grouped in the "Alliance of Indonesian Scientists for the Nation" is led by Prof Dr Sulistyowati Irianto Soewarno, chairman of the Inter-discipline Post Graduate Program of the University of Indonesia expressed concern with the political rivalry lately involving the lawmakers.  

Scientists joining the group included Dr Ratna Sitompul,dean of the medical faculty of the University of Indonesia,  Dr Karlina Supelli from the Driyarkara Institute of Philosophy  and scientists from other universities.

The scientists reminded the politicians that state administration should be based on the Constitution inspired by the value of the state ideology Pancasila.

They said the political development lately has resulted in the loss of the people's confidence with damaging impact on the economy.

They called on the political elites to show more interest in the national integrity rather than in the interest of their groups.

They expressed concern with  especially with the rivalry between the Red and White Coalition (KMP)  supporting defeated presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto and one called  Great Indonesia Coalition (KIH) supporting president elect Joko Widodo.

KMP which dominates both the parliament as well as the People's Consultative Assembly that makes and amends the country's Constitution  had issued a controversial law .

Under the law, which is a revision of the regional election,  provincial governors, and lower government administration leaders would be elected by regional or district legislative assemblies instead of directly by the people.

Observers were worried that the KMP, which also includes the ruling Democratic Party of outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono,  is set to block any policy of the populist president elect Joko Widodo who will be installed on Oct 20. (WDY)