REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA =- The Constitutional Court's (MK) decision to reject a request to review the tax amnesty law, saying that it did not violate the constitution, has been praised by the government. "The government really appreciates the court's decision," Finance Minister Sri Mulyani said after the verdict was delivered at the Constitutional Court here on Wednesday.

The court's verdict had brought legal certainty to tax payers regarding to the government's tax amnesty program, the minister said. The decision is expected to encourage more tax payers to participate in the program, Sri Mulyani added. "This is a worthwhile decision for the government in implementing the law on tax amnesty until the end of March 2017," she said.

The Constitutional Court rejected two requests for judicial review of Law No. 11/2016 on Tax Amnesty filed by an organization called the Indonesian People Struggle Alliance. The group told the court the law was unjust as it discriminated between taxpayers. The law also gave special rights to tax evaders by allowing them exemption from administrative sanctions, examination process, and punishment, contradicting Article 27 (1) of the 1945 Constitution, the group claimed.

During the trial led by Constitutional Judge Arief Hidayat, the panel of judges asserted that arguments presented by the plaintiff had no legal basis, and said that the law did not violate the constitution.

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