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Photo session after focus group discussion on Saturday (30/11/2019) in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai (Mabar), East Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT). Photo by Humas MK/Agung Penyok.

JAKARTA, Public Relations of the Constitutional Court—The Constitutional Court (MK) has the duty to ensure that the constitution truly be implemented in the life of the nation and state. Teachings on constitutionalism, protection of human rights, and democracy are the spirit of the times. "Who is against the spirit of the times will be left behind by the times," said Deputy Chief Constitutional Justice Aswanto

The focus group discussion (FGD) on "Brainstorming of Experts/Academics in the Framework of Revising the Constitutional Court Regulation and Evaluation of the Judicial Review Cases Settlement in 2019" was part of a series of a national seminar and book review event held the previous day, Friday (29/11/2019) at the St. Paulus Ruteng Catholic University of Indonesia (UNIKA), Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara. The series of activities was carried out in collaboration with the Central Information Commission and UNIKA St. Paulus Ruteng.

In his closing remarks, Justice Aswanto said that safeguarding the constitution means protecting human rights and democracy. One of the essences of democracy is openness. With openness, people get information so that they come to think about the survival of their nation and state. These community contributions can be used to improve the life of the nation and state including in law enforcement.

"We must give people space to think about the problems of the nation and state. Of course [it] cannot be maximized if it is not preceded by information disclosure," explained Justice Aswanto in the FGD, which was attended by Constitutional Justices Arief Hidayat and Wahiduddin Adams, Secretary General M. Guntur Hamzah, Chief Constitutional Registrar Muhidin, Chairman of the Central Information Commission Gede Narayana, Head of the Research and Documentation Division of the Central Information Commission Romanus Ndau Lendong, Vice Regent of Mabar Maria Geong, Chairman of Mabar DPRD Edistasius Endi, Mabar DPRD Vice Chairman Darius Angkur, Mabar Bawaslu Chief Simeon Sofan Sofian, academics of UNIKA St. Paulus Ruteng, and other guests.

Secretary General of the Constitutional Court M. Guntur Hamzah in his remarks stated that the FGD was aimed to receive input from academics and the public to improve the procedural law of the Constitutional Court in settling disputes over the results of regional head election and in judicial review. "This time it is focused on the procedural law of judicial review," he said.

Guntur reported that the Court had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Central Information Commission and a separate MoU with UNIKA St. Paulus Ruteng. He revealed that 70 universities had collaborated with and became friends of the Court. At UNIKA St. Paulus Ruteng, the Court also organized a national seminar and review of several of the 24 books published by the Court in 2019, which are written by Constitutional Court justices and staff members. “We plan on publishing 37 books,” Guntur said. He also said that the Court has provided information for the public.

Vice Regent of Mabar Maria Geong expressed her appreciation of the event, which she considered very important, especially for tourism development program in Mabar. "This makes us more efficient in promoting tourism programs because Labuan Bajo will be increasingly popular in terms of tourism," she said.

Deputy Chief Constitutional Justice Aswanto, Constitutional Justice Arief Hidayat, Constitutional Justice Wahiduddin Adams, Central Information Commission Chief Gede Narayana, and Head of the Research and Documentation Division of the Central Information Commission Romanus Ndau Lendong delivered presentations at the FGD, which was moderated by Junior Registrar III Triyono Edy Budhiarto.

In his presentation, Constitutional Justice Arief Hidayat quoted first President Sukarno, who said Indonesia was like a beautiful flower garden. Therefore, Justice Arief believed Indonesia must be managed properly and correctly. He talked about three main principles of the Indonesian administration: theocracy, democracy, and nomocracy. "[These are] what distinguish Indonesia from other countries," he said.

Constitutional Justice Wahiduddin Adams explained the important task of the Indonesian people since independence to organize and consolidate the laws and regulations that have been in force since the Dutch colonial era. "There are still around 600 regulations legacy of the Dutch [colonials] that still apply," Wahid said.

Central Information Commission Chief Gede Narayana stated that bill drafting must involve elements of the community. "The public has the right to know information held by state institutions," he said.

Participant Carolus Urgento expressed his appreciation of the performance of the Constitutional Court. According to him, the Constitutional Court and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) are two respected institutions that are in line with the big agenda of the Reform. He also appreciated that the Constitutional Court listens to the aspirations of the public in the preparation of the Constitutional Court procedural law in the settlement of disputes over the results of regional head election. "In 2010 in NTT there will be 9 regencies or cities that will hold an election," he said. (NRA)

Translated by: Yuniar Widiastuti

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