Harun Alrasyid quits KPU over election results<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Pressure is building against the General
\nElections Commission (KPU), including from deputy chairman Harun
\nAlrasid who abruptly resigned out of frustration over repeated
\ndelays in the poll results announcement.<\/p>\n
The body became the target of various demonstrations on
\nThursday, while inside the office on Jl. Imam Bonjol in Central
\nJakarta, Harun personally tendered his resignation to KPU
\nchairman Rudini.<\/p>\n
Harun, a professor of constitutional law, represented the
\nIslamic Community Party in the KPU.<\/p>\n
\"Pak Harun gave me a copy of his letter to the party chairman,
\nrequesting a replacement to represent the party at the KPU,\"
\nRudini announced during a break at the commission's plenary
\nmeeting.<\/p>\n
\"It is his right... the KPU cannot prevent his resignation
\nnor persuade him against doing so,\" he said. He suggested Harun
\nalso inform President B.J. Habibie as the President installed the
\nKPU members.<\/p>\n
Speaking to the media after delivering the letter, Harun said
\nhe was disappointed with the commission's failure to complete the
\nnational vote count and announce the final poll results as
\npreviously scheduled on Thursday, July 8.<\/p>\n
\"The KPU cannot meet its own deadline on the poll results
\nannouncement. How long will it be delayed again for?\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said his disappointment with the KPU's performance was
\nsparked when it told the National Elections Committee (PPI) to
\ndelay the national tallying of poll results on June 21 on the
\npretext of slow vote counting process in provinces.<\/p>\n
Harun said he was also disappointed with the KPU members'
\nattitude of attacking and insulting each other.<\/p>\n
The PPI completed and announced on Thursday afternoon the
\nfinal results of the votes counted in 14 provinces, namely Aceh,
\nRiau, Jambi, South Sumatra, Lampung, Jakarta, Central Java,
\nYogyakarta, East Java, Bali, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan,
\nIrian Jaya and East Timor.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan was still leading with 87 House of
\nRepresentatives (DPR) seats. Golkar and the National Awakening
\nParty (PKB) followed in a tie with 35 seats each, while United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP) has 18 and the National Mandate Party
\n(PAN) 15.<\/p>\n
PPI chairman Jacob Tobing said on Thursday the body needed
\nmore time, up to July 21, in order to complete its job. This was
\nin contrast to his statement on Tuesday when he said the vote
\ncount would likely be completed by July 15.<\/p>\n
KPU deputy chairman Adnan Buyung Nasution begged for
\nunderstanding for the delay when he met with 200 activists of the
\nAnti-Status Quo Movement (GAS) on Thursday. The activists
\ndemonstrated in front of the KPU secretariat demanding the
\ncommission immediately complete and announce the poll results.<\/p>\n
\"We are facing difficulties in completing the vote count on
\ntime. We have predicted that it will be completed by July 21,\" he
\nannounced.<\/p>\n
\"If the KPU still fails to deliver final results, all of you
\ncan return and stage a demonstration here again,\" he said to the
\nactivists' loud cheers.<\/p>\n
Another demonstration also took place in front of the KPU
\nsecretariat.<\/p>\n
The joint demonstration was held by dozens of activists from
\nthe Muslim Students Association (HMI) and the Communication Forum
\nof the Jakarta Muslim Students (FKMIJ). They demanded Soeharto
\nand his cronies be immediately brought to court, the military be
\nbarred from politics, and the 1945 Constitution be amended.<\/p>\n
Later, five activists of the Indonesian Committee for the
\nAdvocacy of the Disabled (KAPCI) staged a demonstration demanding
\ntheir sociopolitical, economic and legal rights be considered and
\nupheld by the new members of the People's Consultative Assembly
\n(MPR) and the future leaders of the state.<\/p>\n
Interest group<\/p>\n
The plenary meeting of the KPU also established on Thursday a
\n15-member team in charge of setting up criteria and selecting
\ncandidates for the 65-member Interest Groups at the MPR.<\/p>\n
Earlier, the KPU determined nine societal groups to be
\nrepresented in the MPR. They include religious groups, the
\ndisabled, women groups, NGOs, students, war veterans,
\nintellectuals and artists.<\/p>\n
The plenary meeting also criticized Government Decree No.
\n33\/1999 on the General Election, which limits the KPU's authority
\nin the establishment of poll results.<\/p>\n
An article in the decree stipulates the Election Supervisory
\nCommittee (Panwaslu) can validate the final poll results even if
\ntwo-thirds of the KPU members decline to approve them.<\/p>\n
\"The government decree should be reviewed in a KPU plenary
\nmeeting,\" Edwin Henawan Soekowati, a KPU member, said. (imn)<\/p>",
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