Jakarta – The Constitutional Meeting at the National Parliament (DPR), intending to pass in to law draft laws on nuclear power yesterday and was attended by 75 people, was coloured interruptions and a "walk out" by PDI (Indonesian Democratic Party) fraction member Laksmiari Priyonggo along with anti-nuclear demonstrators.

When the Minister for Research and Technology BJ Habibie arrived at around 9.30am he was greeted by anti-nuclear protesters. As he got out of his car, around 50 demonstrators unfurled poster, one of which read" "We reject the Nuclear Power Legislation. God forgive them for they do not know what they are doing with nuclear [power]".

Habibie guarded by a Security Officer was able to get away from the demonstrators and the Officer blocked the demonstrators from entering. The Minister of Justice, Oetojo Oesman after answering questions on the laws left by the rear.

Herman Widyananda and Amril Hamidy from the ABRI fraction said they hoped that the government would "socialise" the laws so they could be understood by society. Muhammad Buang from the PPP (United Development Party" said: "The PPP fraction asks for attention on this issue, because through Batan already publicised its enthusiasm to build a nuclear power plant in the Muria peninsular, Central Java.

Habibie, was then given an opportunity to answer these and a number of other concerns. After the meeting, he held a press conference in which he explained that the nuclear power option was the last alternative claiming that "we have not yet decided the Muria nuclear power plant". He also left by the rear door.

[Abridged translation from Media Indonesia - JB]