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| Southeast Asia |
| Indonesia turns down Sharia... |
| 2002-08-10 |
| In a major expansion of democracy, Indonesia's top legislature amended the constitution Saturday to require direct presidential elections and end reserved parliament seats for the military. Closing out its annual two-week session, the 700-member People's Consultative Assembly also turned back calls to impose Islamic-based law in the world's most populous Muslim nation. The assembly's decision to abolish its own role as an electoral college that picks the head of state is considered the most important government change since the 1960s, when Indonesia was shaken by political unrest. When Speaker Amien Rais asked the delegates to agree on a direct presidential ballot beginning with the 2004 election, they chorused: "Agreed." The Islamists will keep pushing for Shariah, since it gives them control over every aspect of people's lives. This is an issue that won't go away until the Soddies do. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |