Complaints to be 3 days after vote<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Constitutional Court has warned all electoral candidates that
\nshould they dispute the results of this year's elections, all
\nnecessary documents should be prepared in advance, as time was
\nlimited.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the court Jimly Asshiddiqie said his office was
\npreparing guideline for all legislative and presidential
\ncandidates and political parties.<\/p>\n
\"We have to follow the timetable. This is not the time to
\ndebate regulations,\" Jimly said after witnessing the inauguration
\nof A.A. Oka Mahendra, as the court's secretary general here on
\nFriday.<\/p>\n
Jimly was referring to the Law No.24\/2003 on the
\nConstitutional Court which suggests that individuals or political
\nparties file a complaint no later than three days after the
\nGeneral Elections Commission (KPU) announces the election
\nresults.<\/p>\n
Article 78 of the law says that the court should deliver its
\nverdict within 14 days after a complaint over the presidential
\nelection is registered with the court.<\/p>\n
The law also gives 30 days to the court to settle disputes
\nregarding the results of the legislative elections.<\/p>\n
The country will hold the general election and direct
\npresidential election on April 5 and July 5 respectively. Only
\npolitical parties or groups of parties collecting at least five
\npercent of the vote in the general election can nominate
\npresidential candidates.<\/p>\n
Among the authorities of the court are to settle electoral
\ndisputes, review laws, dissolve a political party and settle a
\nlegal conflict between state institutions.<\/p>\n
The court also has an obligation to pass judgment over any
\nallegation raised by the House of Representatives (DPR) that the
\nPresident has committed a wrongdoing.<\/p>\n
Jimly underlined that all electoral candidates had to stick to
\nthe schedule and regulations, otherwise the country's political
\nagenda would be disrupted.<\/p>\n
To save time, however, Jimly said he would allow an individual
\nor party planning to seek the court's intervention to submit
\ntheir request via e-mail and submit the necessary documents
\nlater.<\/p>\n
Earlier, there had been suggestions that the court would hold
\na teleconference for those unable to attend the hearing in
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
However, after studying the proposal on a number of levels,
\nthe court found the idea had several disadvantages.<\/p>\n
According to Jimly, the teleconference would only benefit
\ncandidates for the Regional Representatives Council (DPD)
\nelection who live in remote areas, not presidential candidates
\nand political parties that are based in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Jimly added a teleconference would cost the state about Rp 75
\nmillion (US$8,823) per hour. Also, it could also be misused by
\nanyone viewing their time on television as an opportunity for
\nself-promotion.<\/p>\n
\"We finally concluded that the disadvantages of the
\nteleconference outweighed its benefit,\" he said.<\/p>",
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