Islamic sharia police officers stand to check motorists on the street in Aceh province, Indonesia. (Associated Press)
Jakarta:
Indonesian rights groups and concerned citizens mounted a legal challenge on Monday to parliament's decision to scrap direct elections for local leaders, a move criticised as weakening the country's young democracy.
Since 2005 members of the public had the right to elect mayors, provincial governors and district heads but lawmakers voted on Friday to end this system and hand power to local parliaments to pick them.
Supporters said holding so many polls across the vast archipelago was costly. But critics argued that abolishing them would increase corruption and return Indonesia to the era of dictator Suharto, toppled in 1998 after three decades in power.
The bill was also seen as an act of revenge, as it was pushed by parties that had supported his rival for the presidency, ex-general Prabowo Subianto.
A coalition of several local rights groups, including leading organisation Imparsial, filed for a judicial review of the decision Monday at the Constitutional Court in the capital Jakarta, said a court spokesman.
A group of concerned citizens unconnected to any specific group also filed a challenge, as did leading lawyer O.C. Kaligis, spokesman Budi Djohari told AFP.
He added it was not yet clear whether judges would hear the challenges together or separately or when a decision would be reached on whether to strike down or uphold the law.
Some independent analysts have said it is likely the court will strike down the law.
Wahyudi Djafar, a lawyer representing the rights groups, said parliament's decision ran contrary to the constitution.
"We hope the Constitutional Court will put an end to this crisis by granting a fair ruling that upholds people's right to choose their political leaders directly," he said.
Since 2005 members of the public had the right to elect mayors, provincial governors and district heads but lawmakers voted on Friday to end this system and hand power to local parliaments to pick them.
Supporters said holding so many polls across the vast archipelago was costly. But critics argued that abolishing them would increase corruption and return Indonesia to the era of dictator Suharto, toppled in 1998 after three decades in power.
The bill was also seen as an act of revenge, as it was pushed by parties that had supported his rival for the presidency, ex-general Prabowo Subianto.
A coalition of several local rights groups, including leading organisation Imparsial, filed for a judicial review of the decision Monday at the Constitutional Court in the capital Jakarta, said a court spokesman.
A group of concerned citizens unconnected to any specific group also filed a challenge, as did leading lawyer O.C. Kaligis, spokesman Budi Djohari told AFP.
He added it was not yet clear whether judges would hear the challenges together or separately or when a decision would be reached on whether to strike down or uphold the law.
Some independent analysts have said it is likely the court will strike down the law.
Wahyudi Djafar, a lawyer representing the rights groups, said parliament's decision ran contrary to the constitution.
"We hope the Constitutional Court will put an end to this crisis by granting a fair ruling that upholds people's right to choose their political leaders directly," he said.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
