UNS – Constitutional Law Community (CLC) Faculty of Law (FH) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta and Constitutional Law (Hukum Tata Negara – HTN) experts discussed the importance of the constitution and state defense comprehension in the “Constitution and State Defense Education”, Wednesday (29/7/2020). The webinar invited the Chief of Democracy and National Resilience Study Center (Pusat Demokrasi dan Ketahanan Nasional – Pusdemtanas) Institute for Research and Community Engagement (LPPM) UNS, Dr. Sunny Ummul Firdaus, Professor of HTN FH Universitas Islam Indonesia, Prof. Ni’matul Huda, and Faculty Member from Pancasila and Civics Education Program Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) UNS, Dr. Sri Haryati as the speakers.
Attended by 285 participants, Prof. Ni’matul Huda stated that the implementation of the constitution is the real relationship between the powers in a country. The power consists of the king, parliament, cabinet, pressure groups and political parties. However, in her observation, Prof. Ni’matul Huda considers that constitution practice in Indonesia has not been implemented properly. This is reflected in the less optimal role of the post-reform MPR. As a state institution that originally has the highest position in the country, currently, MPR holds a position that is equal to the executive, judiciary, and other legislative institutions, namely the DPR and DPD.
“Since group delegates were abolished from the definition of Article 2 paragraph (1) of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, is MPR still a house of people’s sovereignty or has it turned into political party sovereignty,” Prof. Ni’matul explained.
In this case, Prof. Ni’matul Huda suggested that MPR is returned into its original position as the house of people’s sovereignty so that people’s voice can be represented by group delegates and not just political party. Continuing the material from Prof. Ni’matul Huda, Dr. Sunny as HTN expert mentioned that a constitution has three principles: justice, certainty or zekenheid, and utility. These principles are the nature of the constitution that is aimed to protect a country from constantly moving influences. Therefore, Dr. Sunny also mentioned about the importance of the constitution to adjust to changing times.
To ensure that a constitution can be understood and used as guidelines and outlook on life of a nation, it needs support from citizen’s state defense. Dr. Sri Haryati stated that state defense aimed to maintain the survival of the nation and state from various threats. The mandate to emphasize the importance of planting a state defense attitude has been stated in Article 27 Paragraph (3) of the 1945 Constitution which reads, “every citizen has the right and duty to participate in the defense of the country.”
Dr. Sri Haryati explained that the comprehension of state defense can be taught through Civics Education, compulsory military basic training, voluntary/compulsory military service, and professional service. Dr. Sri Haryati stated that State Defense Awareness Coaching (Pembinaan Kesadaran Bela Negara – PKBN) is necessary in the Civic Education. in this case, PKBN divided into three parts, namely education, community, and employment. Humas UNS
Reporter: Yefta Christopherus AS
Editor: Dwi Hastuti