Constitutional Justice Harjono while giving short lectures to all students of the Faculty of Law (FH), UPN Veteran East Java, Surabaya, who visited the Constitutional Court (MK), Monday (13/6) in the morning.

Students of the Faculty of Law (FH), UPN Veteran East Java, Surabaya, visit the Constitutional Court (MK) on Monday (13/6) in the morning. Their arrival was received directly by the Constitutional Justice Harjono, followed by a brief lecture about the background of the establishment of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Indonesia (MKRI).

On that occasion, Harjono explain the situation of Indonesia in the new order that is not democratic, the lack of efforts to eradicate corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN), rampant human rights violations and the lack of law enforcement.

"The things that happened during the order was evaluated again, whether it occurs just because someone else's faults? Or is it something to do with the problems in how the country is governed? What is the basis of state regulation? It seemed practice that occurs in the new order is the 'contribution' because the Constitution gives the opportunity to make such deviations occur in the new order, " Harjono said.

That's why in 1999 it was began the 1945 amendment. Stages of the 1945 amendment made four times (1999-2002). However, said Harjono, amend or modify the 1945 Constitution for four years should not be changed every year.

"But as a change in the series, meaning that there is relation between the first change to the fourth amendment," said Harjono who was accompanied by Teguh Sudarto as the moderator and also Rector of the college.

Harjono continued, talking about 1945 Constitution can not change regardless of the situation which opened up opportunities to talk about changing the Constitution. The situation is in the stage of political development of Indonesia named as the Reformation in 1998. The trigger of 1998 Reform of was U.S. dollar exchange rate crisis that caused the rupiah plummeted.

"Then suddenly, the crisis led to economic crisis in Indonesia, even to the political crisis continues to raise student movements, NGOs and others that lead to political demands for increased value of democracy, eradicated corruption, strengthening the rule of law, and devolution of government reinforced to more areas, "explained Harjono.

The peak of massive Indonesian student movements in the post-reform causing President Soeharto stepped down on May 12, 1998 and was replaced by President BJ. Habibie.

Furthermore Harjono express that one change from the 1945 Constitution is about the power of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR). In Article 1, Paragraph (2) of the 1945 Constitution which was amended and declared that "Sovereignty is in the hands of the people and executed according to the Constitution." This is different as mentioned in the 1945 Constitution before the amendment that says "Sovereignty is in the hands of the people and carried out entirely by the Assembly". Thus, the MPR is now no longer having exclusive power as the sole executor of popular sovereignty. (Nano Tresna A./mh/Yazid.tr)