Jakarta – The House of Representatives' Commission III overseeing legal affairs approved a controversial bill on the Supreme Court on Tuesday, except for the article on justices' retirement age.
The contentious article will remain undecided until the deliberation of the bill with government representatives Thursday. The House plenary is scheduled to pass the bill either unanimously or via a vote.
Unlike the majority of the House, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) resisted the extension of justices' retirement age to 70 as stipulated in the government-sponsored bill. The faction also rejected an article on the Supreme Court's financial management.
PDI-P lawmaker Eva Sundari said her party would persuade the United Development Party and Prosperous Justice Party to support its argument at the decisive plenary session.
The PDI-P faction, which holds only 109 out of 550 seats in the House, has opposed the adjusted retirement age for justices, fearing it could hinder change within the judiciary power.
Corruption watchdogs have increased pressure on the House to drop the article and reinstate the original retirement age of 65 years. Emerson Yuntho of Indonesia Corruption Watch said the new retirement age went against the blueprint of the Supreme Court's internal reform, which proposed that justices retire at a maximum age of 67 years.
ICW called on factions opposing the controversial article to boycott the plenary session unless the article was brought back to the negotiating table.
Separately, dozens of activists grouped under the Non-governmental Organizations Alliance of People Concerned for the Law (Ampuh) rallied outside the office of Vice President Jusuf Kalla in Central Jakarta to seek his support for their cause.
"The final chance for the public to see honest and competent Supreme Court justices rests with Vice President Jusuf Kalla," rally coordinator Edy Chumaidy said to Antara. The protest sparked no comment from Kalla on the issue.
Minister of Justice and Human Rights Andi Mattalata defended the controversial article. "The new retirement age will not deter new ranks in the court. The older the wiser," Andi said.
He suggested protesters respect the legitimate decision making process of the House and accept its result. Presidential advisor Adnan Buyung Nasution defended the proposal, saying many serving justices would retire soon.