Golkar charge taints mostly smooth campaign<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The first phase of the two-week general election
\ncampaign was generally considered secure and orderly, except for
\na spoiler on Monday which could lead to the Golkar Party's
\ndisqualification from the remainder of the campaign.<\/p>\n
Deputy chairman of the Election Supervisory Committee Todung
\nMulya Lubis told reporters on Tuesday the official poll watchdog
\nmight bar Golkar from the rest of the campaign after finding
\nevidence the ruling party's security personnel carried sharp
\nweapons.<\/p>\n
\"Golkar officials insisted that none of their security
\nvolunteers possessed weapons. But today's papers and TV
\nbroadcasts clearly show that they were armed,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"It means the (Golkar) officials lied to us. Television
\nfootage and the pictures cannot lie.\"<\/p>\n
However, the election supervisory body would need further
\nevidence to impose sanctions on Golkar, said the noted lawyer who
\nalso coordinates the University Network for Free and Fair
\nElections (Unfrel).<\/p>\n
Todung attended an evaluation meeting with the General
\nElections Commission (KPU), National Elections Committee (PPI)
\nand National Police at the KPU office in Central Jakarta on
\nTuesday.<\/p>\n
Among the topics discussed was the disturbance in which dozens
\nof people clashed with Golkar security personnel near the party's
\nJakarta chapter in Cikini, Central Jakarta. Golkar security
\nvolunteers, clad in black uniforms, were seen in TV footage
\nwaving machetes and bamboo spears as they chased people who
\nearlier stoned party convoys.<\/p>\n
The campaign rules endorsed by KPU say that serious
\nviolations, including instigating disturbances and practicing
\nmoney politics, carry a maximum penalty of a ban from
\ncampaigning.<\/p>\n
Todung said Golkar could face charges of inciting clashes and
\nengaging in money politics.<\/p>\n
He said the incident reportedly erupted after several Golkar
\nofficials failed to fulfill a pledge to pay local residents.
\nGolkar executives have denied the reports.<\/p>\n
Separately, the head of the Jakarta Election Supervisory
\nCommittee, Benny Johan Simatupang, supported Todung's comments,
\nsaying it was evident that Golkar violated the campaign code of
\nconduct by allowing its security personnel to carry weapons.<\/p>\n
\"It could be categorized as a crime and they (Golkar security
\nvolunteers) can be punished under the Criminal Code. Golkar can
\nbe disqualified, but we will first summon the party leaders,\"
\nBenny said after a meeting between the parties' leaders and city
\nofficials to evaluate the first phase of campaigning.<\/p>\n
The provincial poll watchdog has reportedly reprimanded Golkar
\nfor the alleged violation of security personnel carrying arms.<\/p>\n
Benny also said that a member of the Jakarta election
\nsupervisory body, Abi Ihwanudin, was a victim of extortion
\ncommitted by a group of people in black uniforms.<\/p>\n
\"He lost his wristwatch and Rp 350,000 (US$49) in cash,\" Benny
\nsaid. He did not identify the group.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Jakarta Police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman
\nsaid on Tuesday police summoned head of Golkar's Jakarta chapter
\nTadjus Sobirin on Monday night to seek his clarification over the
\nincident.<\/p>\n
Noegroho said police found that unidentified people spread
\nrumors among scavengers that Golkar would provide T-shirts and Rp
\n40,000 in cash.<\/p>\n
No arrests have been made following the incident, Noegroho
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He also called on parties contesting the June polls not to
\nequip their security forces with any weaponry. \"We will seize the
\nweapons, although we won't make any arrests,\" Noegroho said.<\/p>\n
In a media conference which followed Tuesday's evaluation
\nmeeting, KPU chairman Rudini said the first phase of the campaign
\nwas considered smooth and relatively secure.<\/p>\n
\"Despite various conflicts, we can say that the situation is
\nunder control,\" added National Police chief Gen. Roesmanhadi, who
\nwas also present at Tuesday's meeting.<\/p>\n
He said violations were mostly committed by motorists during
\nstreet rallies. \"Many of them did not ply the route provided for
\nthem and eventually met with supporters of rival parties. As a
\nresult, heavy traffic congestion was unavoidable and sometimes
\nthey were involved in clashes.\"<\/p>\n
Roesmanhadi also promised a thorough investigation into
\ncertain parties which allegedly tampered with their lists of
\nlegislative candidates.<\/p>\n
The meeting also discussed poll-rigging, including findings
\nthat some ballots in South Kalimantan and Sumenep, a town on
\nMadura Island in East Java, were already marked in favor of
\nparticular parties.<\/p>\n
\"The practice is likely to have happened while local elections
\ncommittee members folded the ballot papers,\" PPI chairman Jacob
\nTobing said.<\/p>\n
PPI will send new ballot papers to the two areas and order the
\nlocal elections committee to withdraw the spoiled ballots.<\/p>\n
Jacob said in the next two days all ballot papers and boxes
\nmust be received by regional elections committees in areas
\noutside Java.<\/p>\n
\"The poll materials must reach subdistrict polling committees
\nthere by June 4,\" he said.<\/p>\n
During the meeting it was revealed that participants in
\ncampaigning by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle topped
\nthe list for traffic violations. (edt\/ind\/jun)<\/p>",
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