Inter-Parliamentary Union - British Group - PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION FROM INDONESIA


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Delegation Reports

PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION FROM
INDONESIA:
WEDNESDAY 13 DECEMBER 2006

The Delegation

Mr Sutan Bhatoegana
Leader of the Delegation &Chair of the bi-lateral cooperation group

Mr Constant M. Ponggawa
Vice-Chair of the bi-lateral cooperation group

Mr Joyokusumo Sumyandono

Mr Mohamad Aly Yahya

Mr Mahadi Sinambela

Mr Endang Akhmad Darojat

Mr Jaka Aryadipa Singgih

Mr Tosari Widjaja

Mr Pupung Suharis Soegito

Mr Denny Sultany Hasan

Mr Nurhadi M. Musawir

Mr Taufikurrachman Saleh

Mr M. Nizar Dahlan

Mr Bursah Zarnubi

Mr MC Zaqki Zachariaz Thamrin
Secretary of the bi-lateral cooperation group

Mr Saiful Islam - Secretary of the bi-lateral cooperation group

This visit took place outside the scheduled BGIPU programme. The Indonesian Embassy in London initiated the visit with the aim of improving parliamentary contacts. The delegates were all members of the bi-lateral co-operation group in the Indonesian House of Representatives.
On Wednesday, 13 December, the British Group IPU hosted a day in parliament for this delegation. The day started with a tour of Parliament which was led by Tim Loughton MP and the Rt Hon Lord Kilclooney. The delegates then met Mike Gapes MP, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee who outlined the UK committee system and in particular the role of the Foreign Affairs Committee. The delegates asked questions about the role of the Speaker and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards. There was also an interesting discussion about the Muslim community in the UK and the new racial and religious hatred act.
The delegates observed Prime Minister’s Question Time from the Gallery before having lunch in the Attlee Room in the House of Lords. Lunch was hosted by the Rt Hon Lord Jopling DL and was attended by a cross party selection of MPs and Peers.
The programme concluded with a round table parliamentary discussions meeting which was chaired by Khalid Mahmood MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Indonesia. The delegation indicated that they would welcome more bi-lateral co-operation and described our relations as a mutually beneficial partnership. In particular they would like to see more co-operation in the fight against terrorism and increased contact in the spheres of trade and investment and higher education. The delegates spoke at length about the difficulty in balancing the need to enforce security against peoples’ right to civil liberties. The discussion also touched on the situation in Aceh and East Timor.