Indonesia's highest consultative assembly wrapped up its 10-day annual meeting, approving its fourth series of constitutional amendments since 1999, including on direct presidential elections and ruling against imposing sharia law for Muslims.
In a plenary that dragged long past its scheduled closure, some 600 assembly members present voted on the last point of contention: whether the assembly should only consist of elected members.
The vote ruled in favor of scrapping all non-elected seats at the assembly by 2001 [other reports cite 2004 - JB], including the 38 held by the military and police and 73 seats of the "interest faction" representative of major non-political mass groupings.
Chairman of the "interest faction" Harun Kamil said he accepted the result of the vote "with the feeling that it is the way it's supposed to be." He received a round of applause as he stepped off the podium Earlier, assembly chairman Amien Rais passed by acclaim 16 amendements which had been already agreed by separate commissions of the assembly, including on direct presidential elections.
It also agreed, without a vote but after a 20 minute break to allow lobbying, to drop efforts to add to a constitutional clause on religion to make it an obligation for Muslims to follow sharia law or for every citizen to practice their religion.
"Factions which had initially proposed alternatives besides the current one have now, with a spirit of statemanship and tolerance ... agreed that it is better to return to what is already there," said Rais. Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim-populated nation but the constitution gives an equal footing to all religions.
Sharia is already partially implemented in the staunchly Muslim province of Aceh as part of a broad autonomy granted by the government last year in an effort to curb separatist sentiments there.
The partial sharia in Aceh obliges women to cover their head and insists businesses and activities stop for the day's five prayers, and for Friday prayers.
Pressure to push for the sharia for the country's Muslims was spearheaded by the United Development Party, the largest Muslim party currently chaired by Vice President Hamzah Haz, and several smaller Islamic parties.
The small Crescent and Star Party officially stated that they did not take part in the decision making while several other assembly members also objected to the decision.
Another thorny issue, the use of the word "indigenous' in the assembly's recommendation to the government on the improvement in the economy, was the subject of heated debate before the floor unanimously agreed to drop the term that many say carried a prejudiced connotation.
"Indigenous" is used to describe native Indonesians while non-indigineous usually designates Indonesians of ethnic Chinese descent.
One of the main reforms agreed by all was to gradually eliminate all form of discrimination, including against ethnic Chinese who have often become the target of unrest.
The decision for a direct presidential and vice presidential elections in 2004 was also agreed by all 12 factions at a People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).
They also agreed that should no single pair of vice presidential candidates win more than 50 percent of the total in the first round of elections, the people will elect one of two pairs who win most votes.
At present the president and vice-president are elected by the 700-strong MPR. This is made up of 500 members of the lower house of parliament who include the unelected military/police deputies, plus regional and 73 unelected group representatives.
Other amendements covered the composition of a triumvirate to take over the presidency and the dissolution of the Supreme Advisory Council which has advised the president on major policies. The annual meeting will officially close at a plenary later Sunday.