House not playing game in wanting interpellation over mudflow

Jakarta, NU Online
The House of Representatives (DPR) is quite serious and not playing a game in wanting to use its interpellation right on the Lapindo mudflow disaster in Sidoarjo, East Java, a legislator said.

Suharso Manoarfa, secretary of the United Development Party (PPP) faction in the House was responding to a statement on the House`s interpllation move by Sonny Pudjisasono, chairman of the Lapindo Victims Alliance.<>

Pudjisasono was reported to have said the House`s intention to question the government about the Lapindo mudflow was not more than a horse-trading ploy of one side in the political elite.

He said he doubted the House`s seriousness in its effort to question the government over the mudflow that had been gushing out of a PT Lapindo Brantas oil or gas well over the past one year.

Monoarfa said the House`s interpellation move was not a horse-trading tactic but an inherent right of the DPR to put questions to the president.

"The DPR is certainly not invoking its interpellation right for fun. It will depend on the president`s replies," he was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.

The legislator said if the president`s replies did not satisfy the House of Representatives, it would be open for the legislators to issue an opinion statement on whether the government`s policy in handling the Lapindo mudflow case was right or wrong.

"Therefore, the president`s answers should really be precise and meet the people`s aspirations," he added. (dar)