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May 30, 2012
Regime Propaganda: CONSTITUTION PROCESS – SACRED: DR ERAWAN
How privileged we are as a people of Fiji to be given much needed words of counsel on the sanctity of a constitutional process from a country like Indonesia that very often tramples upon sacred tenets of democracy like human rights and equality.
The hue and cry of the illegal and treasonous Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum on the validity of a military led LOGISTICAL management of the registration process falls apart upon a recent revelation that Major Isoa Loanakadavu who is earmarked to head it, has very close blood ties to Col Mosese Tikoitoga.
CONSTITUTION PROCESS – SACRED: DR ERAWAN
Ministry of Information
May 28|11:17 am
The constitution making is a sacred process and moment whereby it transcends below and above politics.
Those were the comments of Dr I Ketut Putra Erawan, director of the Institute of Peace and Democracy – Bali, Indonesia, at the public lecture on Constitutional Reform on Indonesian Experience at the University of the South Pacific (USP).
Dr Erawan said that all people must come together and be part of this process because constitutional making is a sacred moment.
The Director for Institute of Peace and Democracy spoke at length the challenges, choices and lessons of constitutional reform and how Fiji could learn and model the Indonesian experience as both are archipelagic states.
These include Indonesia’s transition from three decades of authoritarian rule to a stable democracy which is responsive to the needs and aspirations of its people.
In delivering a welcome address, the Indonesian Ambassador to Fiji His Excellency Chandra Salim reaffirmed that his country was ready to assist Fiji in preparation for the 2014 general elections.
Meanwhile, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Elections Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, in giving his deliberations, said the values and principles were the most defining and vital features of a constitution.
“As announced by the Prime Minister, the constitution consultation process outlines some non-negotiable measures which include equal and common citizenry, one person, one vote, one value, elimination of ethnic voting and socio-economic rights for all citizens,” said Mr Khaiyum.
The public lecture was organized by the University of the South Pacific’s Faculty of Arts, Law and Education in conjunction with the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia.
The forum also had a panel discussion on issues pertaining to the constitution process as Fiji prepares for general elections in 2014.
The panelists included: Dr Alumita Durutalo of School of Government, Development and International Affairs – University of the South Pacific, Professor Peter Larmour of School of Management and Public Administration – USP, Nainendra Nand of School of Law –USP and Reverend Akuila Yabaki of Citizens Constitutional Forum.
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2 comments:
He is working for the Indonesian Govt set up - the peace academy
I Ketut Putra Erawan
Ph.D. Political Science, 2003
Dr. Erawan has made many important contributions to his native Indonesia since attending graduate school at OSU as a Fulbright scholarship recipient then at NIU as a Henry Luce Award and graduate assistantship recipient.
In 2005-2009 he was the Director of Graduate Program of Political Science at one of Indonesia’s most prestigious universities, Gadjah Mada University. He is also a very active scholar and researcher. He is engaged with numerous institutions that work tirelessly to make a positive impact on the country’s democratization processes. He is a member of the Steering Committee for the Australia and Indonesia Governance Research Partnership and consultant for the World Bank, World Bank Institute, UNDP and various Indonesian agencies.
In 2007 Dr. Erawan was appointed to the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Indonesia as a core member of the team which designed and revised Laws on Politics affecting elections and political parties.
Most recently, the Department of Foreign Affairs appointed Dr. Erawan as the Executive Director of a newly formed Institute for Peace and Democracy launched by the President of Indonesia. IPD is a truly international institute with ties to Asian countries and comparable institutions in Australia, Europe and the U.S. Dr. Erawan is also the Special Advisor for the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
All of his appointments at the relatively young age of 44 years are all the more impressive
@ Anon: OK so he has sterling academic credentials just like the learned Prof Yash Ghai.
The fact still remains that Indonesia is hardly in a position to tell us how to define a constitution when the process is both illegal and treasonous.
In doing so, Dr Erawan belittles his impeccable credentials to that of a common snake oil merchant.
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