East Timor conducive for polls, election officials say<\/p>\n
By Editha Hartanto<\/p>\n
DILI, East Timor (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid
\nand General Elections Commission (KPU) chairman Rudini asserted
\non Saturday that the June 7 general election should go ahead in
\nEast Timor.<\/p>\n
"The situation is safe enough, and conducive for the
\nelections," Syarwan, in a comment seconded by Rudini, said during
\na brief visit to the province, which has been plagued by armed
\nconflicts between forces for and against separation from
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
At least 87.13 percent, or 397,237, of the 468,064 eligible
\nvoters in East Timor have registered for the polls, according to
\nGovernor Abilio Soares.<\/p>\n
Fifteen of the 48 eligible political parties are contesting
\nthe elections in East Timor, with prominent parties such as the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and
\nGolkar the most aggressive in conducting their campaigns, Abilio
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Syarwan dismissed reported intimidation of groups which did
\nnot support elections in the province. He said the people's vote
\nwas still needed to form a legitimate government.<\/p>\n
Local residents gave differing opinions on the value of the
\npolls. Juanita, a civil servant in the gubernatorial office,
\nbelieved the results would not bring many changes to the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
"The price of a legislative seat here will be far 'cheaper' as
\nonly a small number of people will take part in the ballot," she
\nsaid. "Many residents left the area months ago because of the
\nunstable situation here.<\/p>\n
"I'll stay and vote because my family has no place to go. This
\nland is our home."<\/p>\n
Mario Diaz, a 24-year-old student, said he and his family
\nwould vote. "This is a multiparty era and I think we have the
\nright to participate."<\/p>\n
Private employee Santos Sarmento was less enthusiastic. "I
\nthink more about how to stay alive and hold a steady job. It's
\nhard because everything is so uncertain."<\/p>\n
The United Nations is sponsoring a direct ballot, planned for
\nAugust, to determine East Timorese acceptance of Jakarta's offer
\nof wide-ranging autonomy.<\/p>\n
Apart from the June 7 elections, according to Syarwan, the
\nmost important agenda for the province is dissemination of
\ninformation on Jakarta's proposed autonomy.<\/p>\n
"There must not be use of force or violence to press people.
\nLet them decide for themselves," he added.<\/p>\n
During the visit, the KPU announced an additional two
\nlegislative seats to the previous allotment of four for East
\nTimor. "Maybe another seat will be allocated, depending on
\nfurther developments," said Rudini.<\/p>\n
The East Timor Provincial Election Committee has demanded more
\nseats in the House. Rudini said the three extra seats provided
\nthe province were reassigned from East Kalimantan, Riau and
\nLampung.<\/p>\n
"Riau and Lampung each had one extra seat after it was found
\nthat the number of regencies there was smaller than that listed
\nby the Ministry of Home Affairs," he said.<\/p>\n
According to the Elections Law, each regency in the country's
\n27 provinces is entitled to one provincial legislative seat.<\/p>\n
East Timor, with 13 regencies and a population of 891,000, is
\nactually eligible for 13 legislative seats.<\/p>\n
Rudini continued to the East Java capital of Surabaya where he
\nmet with East Java Governor Imam Utomo and local poll committee
\nofficials. They reported a total of 21,811,625 registered voters,
\nor 91.34 percent of those eligible, in the province, including
\nabout 16,000 Madurese refugees who fled ethnic discord in Sambas,
\nWest Kalimantan, earlier this year.<\/p>\n
"We are ready for the polls. But shortcomings, such as
\ndefective ballot papers, have to be handled soon," Imam said.<\/p>\n
On Aceh, Syarwan said that delaying the elections in the three
\ntroubled regencies of North Aceh, East Aceh and Pidie would not
\nundermine the validity of the general election's results.<\/p>\n
Rudini said the results would be declared legitimate if two
\nthirds of the 48 parties signed off on them.<\/p>\n
"And I think none of the parties would want to cancel the poll
\nresults just because small parts of the country have a delay.<\/p>\n
"We are ready for all possibilities. A delayed vote within
\n30days after the balloting is allowed as stated in the Elections
\nLaw. It will all depend on the situation on the ground in those
\nareas," Rudini said.<\/p>\n
The government is considering postponing the polls in the
\nthree regencies because of rising reports of violence that the
\nmilitary attributes to the Free Aceh Movement.<\/p>\n
Only about 20 percent of the 2,326,432 eligible voters in the
\nprovince are registered.<\/p>\n
Antara reported on Sunday that the United Development Party
\n(PPP) and Golkar carried out campaigning in Central Aceh,
\nmobilizing about 1,000 and 750 supporters at their respective
\nsites.<\/p>\n
The news agency also reported from the Southeast Maluku
\nregency of Tual -- which witnessed recent bloody Muslim-Christian
\nconflicts that killed more than 130 -- that only one of eight
\ndistricts has received ballots.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/east-timor-conducive-for-polls-election-officials-say-1447893297",
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