All candidates involved in money politics: TI<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Transparency International (TI) Indonesia alleges that all five
\npresidential candidates have been involved in some form of vote-
\nbuying, known as money politics, during their electoral
\ncampaigns.<\/p>\n
Anung Karyadi, TI Indonesia's senior executive, told The
\nJakarta Post on Saturday that it included distribution of free
\nbasic commodities, free medical services and transportation fees.<\/p>\n
The five candidates and their running mates are Wiranto and
\nrunning mate Solahuddin Wahid, Megawati Soekarnoputri and Hasyim
\nMuzadi, Amien Rais and Siswono Yudohusodo, Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla, and Hamzah Haz with his running mate
\nAgum Gumelar.<\/p>\n
Most of the campaign managers, according to Anung, handed out
\ntransportation fees of Rp 20,000 to Rp 35,000 to people who came
\nto campaign events.<\/p>\n
Anung said other \"donations\" included the campaign workers for
\nMegawati, who provided free dengue mosquito abatement spraying
\nfor 14 days in many areas of South Sumatra, while Amien donated
\nfertilizer in Kalimantan, and campaign activists for Susilo
\nhanded out rice in Bali.<\/p>\n
\"If those activities are carried out during the campaign
\nperiod, it is considered 'money politics', and is part of efforts
\nto influence people to vote for them,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said such irregularities were discovered during TI
\nIndonesia's monitoring in 53 areas across the country including
\nNorth Sumatra, West Sumatra, Riau, Jambi, South Sulawesi, Central
\nSulawesi and all of the provinces on Java.<\/p>\n
\"We will report the cases as soon as possible to the Election
\nSupervisory Committee (Panwaslu),\" he stated.<\/p>\n
Such techniques were considered to be widespread during the
\ncampaigns for the April 5 legislative election.<\/p>\n
Almost all the political parties, however, denied that what
\nthey had done was in any way a violation, but admitted that they
\ndid occasionally reimburse supporters for transportation fees.<\/p>\n
Hamzah, who has been nominated by the Muslim-based United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP), denied all charges, saying that the
\naccusations were baseless.<\/p>\n
\"We still need more funds to finance our campaigns, how can we
\nbe accused of 'money politics'...,\" Hamzah was quoted by Antara
\nas saying on Saturday.<\/p>\n
But he said that there was a budget allocation to reimburse
\nsupporters' transportation fees, which is considered legitimate.<\/p>\n
Abdillah Toha, a prominent member of the Amien-Siswono
\ncampaign team, said they had no policy for reimbursing
\ntransportation fees.<\/p>\n
He also said that he did not have any information about the
\ndistribution of free fertilizer allegedly done by Amien and
\nSiswono themselves in Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
\"We have never had such a policy,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Slamet Effendi Yusuf, chairman of Wiranto's campaign team,
\nsaid that the allegation was defamatory.<\/p>\n
\"Of course we give money to our campaign activists to hire
\ntrucks, buses and other things during the campaign. But that is
\nnot a violation. You can say that only if we specifically buy
\nvotes, but we have not done that,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Sonny Keraf, treasurer of Megawati campaign team, said that
\nthe reimbursement of transportation fees should not be
\ncategorized as vote-buying.<\/p>\n
\"If we hold a campaign rally, we'll invite supporters to come
\nto the site. I think it is only natural that we reimburse them.
\nThese people should not be so childish by saying that we are
\nbuying votes,\" he whined.<\/p>\n
He added that in Central Java, the campaign team had provided
\nfree lunch for the rally participants, which should be considered
\nan ordinary activity.<\/p>\n
Regarding free dengue abatement in South Sumatra, Sonny said
\nit was conducted as part of our \"social activities\" there.<\/p>\n
Campaigners for Susilo were not contacted.<\/p>\n
However, the Panwaslu branch in Megawati's stronghold of Bali
\nis still debating whether the Susilo-Kalla campaign team
\ncommitted a violation by distributing free rice to people in
\nDenpasar. Some of the Panwaslu members said it was a form of
\nvote-buying, while others maintained that there was no violation.<\/p>",
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