New political parties ask House not to thwart them

A number of new political parties have asked the House of Representatives (DPR) to refrain from creating too many restrictions for them in a new law on political parties.

Representatives of 15 new political parties conveyed the message through the House`s Special Committee on the Draft Laws on Political Parties and the Status and Position of Legislators at a meeting here Thursday.

They all said there was a tendency among the existing big political parties in the country to thwart the establishment of new poltical parties although forming political parties was the right of every citizen.

The new plitical party delegates said they had come to the House to convey their view that the idea of reducing the number of plitical parties in the country was "unjust".

They also said they did not agree with the notion that the existence of many political parties was the cause of political instability.

The 15 new political parties included the Nation`s Sun Party, the Star and Moon Party, the New Democratic Party, the Indonesian Prosperous Party, the Prosperous Peace Bringing Party, the People`s Conscience Party, the Nusantara Parade Party , the Indonesian Independence Party.

Imam Addaruqutni, a leading member of the Nation`s Sun Party, said at the meeting the govenment`s draft law on political parties contained many "oddities".

He said a law on political parties ought not to be drawn up by the government but by the politcians themselves.

The government`s draft law held many clauses limiting the possibility of forming political parties."Many provisions in the draft law put unndue emphazis on procedural requirements but actually threaten democracy," he said.

There was also not enough transparency in discussions on the draft law as political party leaderships and non-governmental organizations were never invited to take part in House hearings on the bill, Imam said.

Twenty Egyptian students visiting Indonesia

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Some 20 Egyptian students are visiting Indonesia at the invitation of the Indonesian government to strengthen ties between the two countries, an official report said.

The visit is a follow-up to an invitation conveyed by the secretary to Indonesia`s Minister for Culture and Tourism, Sapta Nirmandarkata, to Egyptian First lady Suzanne Mubarak who also chairs the Suzanne Mubarak Women`s Forum for International Peace, a statement from the Egyptian Embassy said on Thursday.

The students are here for a week-long visit starting August 18.

"The main aim of the visit is to make sure the young generation that the Youth Exchange Program can be a bridge to help them establish stronger relations and promote the socio-cultural aspects of the two respecties," it said.

During their visit, the Egyptian students would among other things visit some universities in Indonesia, including universities in Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Bandung, and Bali, and meet with some related officials, including Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajudha and Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso.

New Indonesian Bishops` Conference leadership

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono received the new executive board of the Indonesian Bishops` Conference (KWI) at the presidential office here on Thursday.

Accompanied by Religous Affairs Minister Maftuh Basyuni and Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Aburizal Bakrie, the president received the KWI executives for a dialog and exchange of view on various problems in the country.

"Besides introducing the KWI`s new executive board to the president, we also discussed various problems in the country and the contributions of religious communities to national development," KWI Presidium Chairman Martinus Dokma Situmorang said after the meeting with the head of state.

Situmorang added that at the meeting with Yudhoyono, the KWI asked to be involved intensively in national development, the maintenance of the state philosophy, national unity efforts, public welfare, and justice for all people.

"We also expressed our concern and asked for the government to maintain the 1945 Constitution. We said we were also ready to jointly anticipte and get rid of things which have the potential to disturb national unity and integrity," Situmorang said.

He said the KWI gave its moral support to and prayed for the government, and promised to encourage the Catholic community to participate fully in national development.

"We expressed our certainty that if Indonesia remains united and the national values and morality are maintained, this nation will be a blessing to other nations and all people around the world," said Situmorang, the former bishop of Padang, West Sumatra.

At the meeting with the head of state, according to him, President Yudhoyono said the government also shared the KWI`s point of views.

Situmorang said the president on the occasion also pointed out the importance of Pancasila (the state philosophy) as the dignity of the nation and its people.