Defense minister rejects impartial poll watchdog<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense and Security Edi Sudradjat
\nhas rejected calls to establish independent election watchdogs
\nand to abolish the antisubversion law.<\/p>\n
Edi said yesterday that an independent electoral monitoring
\nbody is not needed because Indonesia has the official supervision
\ncommittee under the National Election Institute.<\/p>\n
\"The official committee is made up of representatives from all
\ncontesting parties and is led by the attorney general. What is
\nthe use of a new watchdog?\" he asked in a hearing with the House
\nof Representatives' Commission I for security.<\/p>\n
Edi said Indonesia should make the official election
\nsupervision body improve its function from time to time, rather
\nthan establish an independent body.<\/p>\n
The minister was responding to a House member's question about
\nthe Armed Forces' response to the announcement by a number of
\nnon-governmental organizations that they were establishing
\nindependent monitoring committees for the 1997 general election.<\/p>\n
Last week, former home minister Rudini supported the proposal
\nand said the government should cooperate with the independent
\ncommittees.<\/p>\n
Edi also reiterated the government's determination to maintain
\nthe controversial antisubversion law even though the demand to
\nscrap it is mounting.<\/p>\n
The latest to call on the government to repeal the law was the
\nNational Commission on Human Rights which said that the
\nlegislation violates people's basic rights.<\/p>\n
\"The law is still needed to protect the nation from
\ndisintegration,\" Edi said in the meeting chaired by Aisyah Amini
\nfrom the United Development Party.<\/p>\n
The threat will become more sophisticated in the future with
\nthe use of advanced information technology, he added.<\/p>\n
But he stressed that it is possible for the government to
\nreview the law enacted in 1963 and revise it in line with the
\npresent-day demand.<\/p>\n
The law targets activities viewed by the government as
\ntreason, such as undermining the state ideology Pancasila,
\ndisrespecting or attempting to topple the legitimate government,
\ndisseminating hatred in the community, disrupting state economic
\nactivities and espionage.<\/p>\n
It allows the authorities to detain a suspect for up to one
\nyear until he or she is formally charged and the seizure of
\nmaterial believed to have been used in subversion activities.<\/p>\n
House member Didiet Haryadi Priyohutomo from the ruling Golkar
\nfaction questioned why many government officials so freely allege
\npeople of not being \"Pancasilaist\".<\/p>\n
He said that it should be the court which has the authority to
\njudge if someone is pro-Pancasila or otherwise.<\/p>\n
Edi said he agreed with Didiet. He said government officials
\nshould arm themselves with data before making accusations.<\/p>\n
Tati S. Darsoyo, also from the Golkar faction, questioned the
\ngovernment's policy of underestimating the political implications
\nof the wave of East Timorese youths seeking asylum abroad by
\nforcing their way into foreign embassies in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
She said the government has openly let anti-integration East
\nTimorese leave Indonesia if they wish to do so. The policy is
\ndangerous because the youths could be exploited by anti-Indonesia
\nforces overseas to further their objectives, she argued.<\/p>\n
\"They can be used by foreign non-governmental organizations to
\ncorner Indonesia,\" she said. \"The (defense and security) ministry
\nshould be more concerned about the issue.\"<\/p>\n
Edi said East Timorese who sought asylum abroad were those who
\nhave inadequate comprehension of being part of Indonesia. (pan)<\/p>",
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