Jakarta, NU Online
The government says it is prepared to face a House of Representatives inquiry into its decision to back a United Nations resolution imposing sanctions on Iran over the country's nuclear ambitions.
Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said Monday that the government would be prepared to send representatives to discuss the matter upon a House request to do so.<>
"We are just waiting for questions from the House, which is yet to decide the date for the session," Hassan told reporters after a meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the Bina Graha presidential office.
Hassan declined to disclose whether the meeting was designed to discuss the latest move by the House to question the President over the issue.
He did admit, however, that Yudhoyono was unlikely to further explain the Iran issue at the House in person.
"Article 174 of the House's standing order allows the President to appoint one of his ministers to speak on his behalf," Hassan said.
On Tuesday, the House announced its plan to officially question the government over its backing of the sanctions, though a meeting of its leaders has yet to decide when the inquiry session will take place and what form it will take. A decision on the matter will likely be made this week.
Following the Indonesian government's decision to endorse a UN resolution that imposed more severe sanctions against Iran for its nuclear enrichment project, several factions at the House filed for a petition for the legislative body to hold a special plenary session to query the government.
Seven major factions at the House, including the Golkar Party and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, have thrown their weight behind the motion.
Yudhoyono's Democratic Party and the Muslim-based Prosperous Justice Party factions opposed the plan, while the Crescent Star Party faction abstained.
Bearing resemblance to previously unsuccessful moves to question the government, the recent maneuver looked destined to fail before the House factions decided to give the plan a new lease of life.
It seems many politicians are seeking payback with new fervor following Yudhoyono's decision to reshuffle his Cabinet, which led to a number of figures proposed by political parties being omitted from Cabinet.
Ray Rangkuti, a political observer from the Indonesian Civil Society Circle, said that although the factions' reinvigorated effort was partly motivated by their ire over the President's Cabinet shake-up, they have in fact set a much grander objective.
"These factions have their eyes set on Muslim voters whom they are trying to woo for the 2009 elections," Ray told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
He said the latest move to raise the Iran issue with the government was a face-saving ploy devised by the majority of House factions. "They have gained ample support for this plan, so it won't be easy for them to just back down," he said.
He believed, however, that the House initiative would be short-lived. "This will yield nothing of any significance." (dar)
The government says it is prepared to face a House of Representatives inquiry into its decision to back a United Nations resolution imposing sanctions on Iran over the country's nuclear ambitions.
Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said Monday that the government would be prepared to send representatives to discuss the matter upon a House request to do so.<>
"We are just waiting for questions from the House, which is yet to decide the date for the session," Hassan told reporters after a meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the Bina Graha presidential office.
Hassan declined to disclose whether the meeting was designed to discuss the latest move by the House to question the President over the issue.
He did admit, however, that Yudhoyono was unlikely to further explain the Iran issue at the House in person.
"Article 174 of the House's standing order allows the President to appoint one of his ministers to speak on his behalf," Hassan said.
On Tuesday, the House announced its plan to officially question the government over its backing of the sanctions, though a meeting of its leaders has yet to decide when the inquiry session will take place and what form it will take. A decision on the matter will likely be made this week.
Following the Indonesian government's decision to endorse a UN resolution that imposed more severe sanctions against Iran for its nuclear enrichment project, several factions at the House filed for a petition for the legislative body to hold a special plenary session to query the government.
Seven major factions at the House, including the Golkar Party and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, have thrown their weight behind the motion.
Yudhoyono's Democratic Party and the Muslim-based Prosperous Justice Party factions opposed the plan, while the Crescent Star Party faction abstained.
Bearing resemblance to previously unsuccessful moves to question the government, the recent maneuver looked destined to fail before the House factions decided to give the plan a new lease of life.
It seems many politicians are seeking payback with new fervor following Yudhoyono's decision to reshuffle his Cabinet, which led to a number of figures proposed by political parties being omitted from Cabinet.
Ray Rangkuti, a political observer from the Indonesian Civil Society Circle, said that although the factions' reinvigorated effort was partly motivated by their ire over the President's Cabinet shake-up, they have in fact set a much grander objective.
"These factions have their eyes set on Muslim voters whom they are trying to woo for the 2009 elections," Ray told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
He said the latest move to raise the Iran issue with the government was a face-saving ploy devised by the majority of House factions. "They have gained ample support for this plan, so it won't be easy for them to just back down," he said.
He believed, however, that the House initiative would be short-lived. "This will yield nothing of any significance." (dar)
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