Copiers used in rush to meet election day<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta\/Semarang, Central Java<\/p>\n
Several regencies continued to report the lack of election
\nmaterials on Wednesday while the government nears the Friday
\ndeadline to decide whether to issue a decree postponing the
\nelection altogether or only in certain areas.<\/p>\n
Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra
\nconfirmed on Wednesday that the government was preparing a draft
\nregulation to amend Article 119 of the Election Law on conditions
\nfor delayed elections in particular areas.<\/p>\n
The Election Law only states the election may delayed only in
\nthe case of riots, security disturbances or natural disasters.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in Semarang, Central Java, election officials
\ngrudgingly allowed the photocopying of hundreds of thousands of
\nvote counting forms in a desperate bid to hold an election as
\nscheduled on April 5.<\/p>\n
Dozens of regencies also requested additional ballot papers
\nfrom the General Elections Commission (KPU) to anticipate
\nunforeseen circumstances on election day -- such as the arrival
\nof unregistered voters who insisted on voting.<\/p>\n
For the first time, Indonesians will directly elect central
\nand local legislature members, as well as members of the Regional
\nRepresentative Council.<\/p>\n
KPU member Mulyana W. Kusumah said some 50 of its
\nregental\/municipal branch offices had demanded the provision of
\nthree million additional ballot papers as a contingency.<\/p>\n
Among those regencies demanding additional ballot papers are:
\nSukabumi, Bogor, West Java; Pamekasan, East Java; South Sorong,
\nSorong and Jayapura, all in Papua.<\/p>\n
Mulyana said the Jayapura KPU had even threatened to photocopy
\nthe original ballot papers and to stamp them with an official
\nseal if the KPU did not provide additional ballots.<\/p>\n
He cited the officers' fears that if unregistered voters were
\nnot allowed to vote, riots might erupt at polling stations.<\/p>\n
\"So far, our answer to the demand is that the existing 10
\npercent of reserve ballot papers may be adequate,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, ad interim security minister Hari Sabarno said his
\noffice was monitoring the ballot paper distribution every six
\nhours to ensure the election would be held simultaneously.<\/p>\n
He stressed that the rate of distribution had increased every
\nhour based on monitoring reports from Subdistrict Polling
\nCommittees (PPS) across the country.<\/p>\n
\"Three days before the election, we will hold another meeting
\nand we hope distribution will be completed by then,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Regencies that had not received all required logistics
\nincluded two in East Kalimantan. If necessary, the provincial KPU
\n\"will propose to the (central) KPU to delay the election in the
\ntwo regencies,\" said East Kalimantan KPU member Masykur Melle.<\/p>\n
The province's Malinau regency had not received all of its
\n15,900 ballot paper quota for the election of House of
\nRepresentatives and provincial legislature members. Kutai
\nKertanegara had yet to receive 3,000 ballots for the provincial
\nlegislative election and 6,000 ballots for the regental\/municipal
\nlegislative election.<\/p>\n
In East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), ballot paper distribution for the
\nlegislative election in six regencies averaged just 60 percent.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/copiers-used-in-rush-to-meet-election-day-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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