Government demands KPU neutrality during campaign<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Justice\/State Secretary Muladi
\ninsisted on Wednesday that members of the General Elections
\nCommission (KPU) be barred from campaigning to ensure their
\nneutrality.<\/p>\n
Muladi's demand apparently came in response to the
\ncommission's ban on Cabinet ministers and other high-ranking
\nstate officials from electioneering in the campaign period, which
\nofficially starts next Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Akbar Tandjung, Golkar chairman and former minister\/state
\nsecretary, and Minister of Investment Hamzah Haz, who chairs the
\nUnited Development Party, voluntarily resigned last week to
\nenable them to campaign.<\/p>\n
\"According to the law, KPU is an independent institution. So
\nit is better for its members not to campaign,\" Muladi said after
\na Cabinet meeting at Bina Graha presidential office.<\/p>\n
KPU groups representatives of all 48 parties contesting the
\nJune 7 elections and five government representatives.<\/p>\n
\"We accept the (KPU) rule, although we have never passed a law
\nwhich imposes such a ban,\" Muladi, a professor of law, said.<\/p>\n
Muladi said the government would issue an electoral rule next
\nWednesday, but it would not include campaign bans on Cabinet
\nministers or KPU members.<\/p>\n
\"It's all up to the KPU whether to follow in the footsteps of
\nour two colleagues,\" he said, referring to the resignation of
\nAkbar and Hamzah. The regulation would deal with technical
\nmatters of the elections, Muladi said.<\/p>\n
An internal debate on whether KPU should impose a campaign ban
\non its members heated up on Wednesday, with government
\nrepresentatives in the commission advocating a ban.<\/p>\n
While many supported the commission's ban on officials joining
\ncampaigns, they criticized its credibility due to it allowing its
\nown members to campaign and to run for legislative seats.<\/p>\n
Most KPU members who chair parties strongly oppose the idea.
\n\"KPU has endorsed a rule allowing us to campaign and run for
\nlegislative seats. Why should we change it now?,\" Bambang
\nSulistomo, KPU member and chairman of the Indonesian Democrats
\nAlliance Party (PADI), said.<\/p>\n
\"KPU members deserve exemption because they bear their
\nrespective party's interests,\" Bambang added.<\/p>\n
One government representative, Afan Gaffar, said, \"KPU members
\nare not supermen who can play all roles.\"<\/p>\n
\"Remember that KPU members are actually state employees.
\nTherefore they have to be independent.\"<\/p>\n
Djuhad Mahja, a United Development Party (PPP) representative,
\nsaid KPU members could campaign if the electoral campaign
\nschedule allowed them to do so.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, the commission also announced a plan to
\nestablish an online computer network for ballot counting,
\ninvolving 299 computers at BRI and BNI state bank branches.<\/p>\n
The ballot counting will apply what is called a formal system
\nto be supervised by the United Nations Development Program, an
\ninformal system to be operated by the International Foundation
\nfor Elections System (IFES) and a manual system conducted by
\npolling committee workers at polling places.<\/p>\n
All methods will be applied to enable cross-checking.<\/p>\n
The United Nations Development Program has provided US$1.7
\nmillion to assist in ballot counting.<\/p>\n
A KPU decree states balloting begins at 8 a.m. and must end at
\n2 p.m. on election day, slated for June 7.<\/p>\n
Separately, South Sulawesi Police chief Brig.Gen. Mudji
\nSantoso said 47 political parties signed on Tuesday an agreement
\nto run free, fair and peaceful elections.<\/p>\n
\"The parties also agreed to clear the city of all party
\nsymbols a week before the campaign,\" Mudji added.<\/p>\n
Also on Thursday, the Deliberation, Work and Cooperation
\n(MKGR) Party on Thursday nominated its advisory board chairman,
\nRudini, as its presidential candidate and Minister of Defense and
\nSecurity\/Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Wiranto as vice
\npresidential candidate. (edt\/prb\/rms\/30)<\/p>",
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