Elections commission on learning curve<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The 20-day-old, 53-member General Elections
\nCommission (KPU) is learning-by-doing as it attempts to foster
\ndemocracy through the implementation of a free and fair general
\nelection this year.<\/p>\n
Great expectations have been placed on the commission,
\nassigned to pave the way for free and fair polls. Led by former
\nminister of home affairs Gen. (ret) Rudini, its decisions have
\neither been hailed or criticized by the public and government
\nofficials.<\/p>\n
Its most controversial decision was last week's ruling barring
\ngovernment officials, including ministers, from campaigning for
\nparties contesting the polls.<\/p>\n
The commission, whose members comprise five government
\nrepresentatives and representatives of the 48 political parties
\ncontesting the June 7 general election, was officially
\nestablished on March 10 to replace the disbanded general
\nelections institution.<\/p>\n
The commission is the first of its kind in the country. Some
\ncritics contend the government's draft bill on elections was more
\ndemocratic regarding the membership of the commission. In the
\ndraft bill, civilian representatives not connected to political
\nparties were to be included on the commission. However, the House
\nof Representatives decided against this.<\/p>\n
House members said it would be difficult to reach an agreement
\non who was representative of Indonesia's millions of citizens.<\/p>\n
Controversy first hit the KPU when two of its members refused
\nto be sworn in by President B.J. Habibie, who is legally in
\ncharge of the general election, at Bina Graha presidential office
\non March 11.<\/p>\n
The two, Sri Bintang Pamungkas, the representative of the
\nIndonesian Unidemocracy Party (PUDI), and Bambang Sulistomo, the
\nrepresentative of the Indonesian Democrat Alliance Party, said
\nHabibie did not have the authority to swear them in.<\/p>\n
\"Our own parties ordered us to join the elections commission
\nand we have no obligation to show our loyalty to the President,\"
\nsaid Bintang.<\/p>\n
The following day, Bambang, under pressures from his party,
\nwas installed by Rudini, while Bintang has maintained his stance.<\/p>\n
Adnan Buyung Nasution, a government representative on the
\ncommission, said Bintang, who is known as a reform figure and
\ndemocrat, should accept being sworn in to show his strong
\ncommitment to develop and uphold democracy in the country.<\/p>\n
\"I fear the public will question all decisions made by the
\ncommission because of Bintang's refusal to be sworn in.\"<\/p>\n
Plenary<\/p>\n
More trouble in the commission arose over a clause in the law
\non general elections regarding votes in the commission. The law
\nstipulates the commission's five government representatives have
\na balanced vote with the party representatives.<\/p>\n
In the commission's first meeting, the seemingly simple
\ndecision of electing a chairperson of the plenary session was
\ndeliberated for three hours, with the main debate being whether
\nthe government representatives' balanced vote applied to the
\nelection of a chairperson.<\/p>\n
A further debate was held among the 48 party representatives
\nto decide who among them was representative to chair the plenary
\nsession.<\/p>\n
A commission member who asked for anonymity blamed party
\nrepresentatives' uncompromising attitudes for the difficulty in
\nreaching a decision on who would chair the plenary session.<\/p>\n
\"Several party representatives feel they have become great
\npoliticians because of their presence on the commission, while
\nseveral others are greenhorns in politics,\" the source said.<\/p>\n
Jacob Tobing, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's
\n(PDI Perjuangan) representative on the commission, called on all
\nmembers to start learning about democracy following 32-years of
\nauthoritarian rule under former president Soeharto.<\/p>\n
\"Most members are unfamiliar with democracy after the nation
\nwas ruled by a repressive regime for more than 30 years. Now we
\nhave to start learning about democracy.\"<\/p>\n
The commission again came into the spotlight when it was
\nrevealed several members proposed a monthly salary for commission
\nmembers of Rp 10 million.<\/p>\n
Afan Gaffar, another government representative on the
\ncommission, said the proposed Rp 10 million monthly salary was
\nrejected in the plenary session.<\/p>\n
He said commission members' monthly salaries had not yet been
\ndecided.<\/p>\n
Criticisms aimed at the \"greed\" of the commission's party
\nrepresentatives have accused them of \"eating from two plates
\nsimultaneously\".<\/p>\n
A debate on the commission's credibility also was raised when
\nthe commission ruled its members could campaign and nominate
\nthemselves as legislative candidates. This raised accusations of
\ndouble standards after the commission banned ministers from
\ncampaigning.<\/p>\n
Ramlan Surbakti, a political lecturer at Airlangga University
\nin Surabaya, said KPU members should concentrate on organizing a
\nfree and fair general election.<\/p>\n
\"KPU members should realize they will be employed and paid for
\nfive years and they will be given the use of cars. They should
\nnot demand more than that.\"<\/p>\n
Ramlan also said the elections commission had lost its
\nlegitimacy following its controversial ruling allowing its
\nmembers to campaign and nominate themselves as legislative
\ncandidates, while banning government officials from campaigning.<\/p>\n
Commission chairman Rudini defended the commission's rulings,
\nsaying the rule allowing its members to campaign was a \"political
\ndecision\", while the KPU had the authority to bar government
\nofficials, including ministers, from campaigning. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/elections-commission-on-learning-curve-1447893297",
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