Independent election committee promised<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives' Working Committee
\nhas agreed the National Election Committee would be independent
\nand free in running the general election scheduled for June 7,
\n1999.<\/p>\n
The government and President B.J. Habibie would be in charge
\nof the general election, but would be \"barred\" from intervening
\nin the internal affairs of the committee, whose members would be
\ncomprised of government officials, representatives of
\ncommunities and political parties contesting the general
\nelection.<\/p>\n
Aminullah Ibrahim, chairman of the working committee, said:
\n\"The election committee will be free and independent in making
\ndecisions regarding the election while the president will endorse
\nthese decisions.\"<\/p>\n
The government has proposed that the election committee's
\nmembership consist of 15 individuals: five each from the
\ngovernment, political parties and groups in local communities.<\/p>\n
The House, however, opposed the proposal, according to
\nAminullah. He said the body wanted the deliberation of the issue
\nto be postponed until it was decided which of the political
\nparties will contest the election.<\/p>\n
\"We want the committee to be dominated by political parties
\nand representatives of groups in society to ensure its
\nindependence,\" he said, without elaborating.<\/p>\n
He dismissed concern raised by some new political parties that
\nthe government -- through its representatives in the election
\ncommittee -- might rig the poll.<\/p>\n
Aminullah said government representatives -- with experience
\nin running elections -- in the committee would only be
\nadministrative staff.<\/p>\n
Moreover, \"it would be left to the committee to elect its
\nchairman,\" Aminullah said, adding there was no longer any need to
\nappoint the home affairs minister as the body's chairman as was
\nthe case in the years of former president Soeharto's regime.<\/p>\n
Abu Hasan Sazili, chairman of the House's Special Committee in
\ncharge of deliberation of the three political bills, said both
\nlocal and foreign observers would be allowed to monitor the next
\nelection.<\/p>\n
\"Despite having no authority, local organizations, including
\nthe Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP) as well as
\nforeign observers are allowed to report to Panwaslak (the
\nofficial monitoring committee) on any infractions of the rules
\nduring the election process,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Abu said many foreign agencies from the United States and
\nAustralia have expressed their interest in helping to monitor the
\nnext election.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, House Deputy Speaker Hari Sabarno reiterated the
\nHouse's willingness to remain open to any public suggestions
\nregarding the deliberation of the political bills.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that before deliberation commenced, the
\nfactions in the House have all held dialogs with university
\nfaculties and students, non-governmental organizations and new
\npolitical parties.<\/p>\n
\"Even now we're still open ... to any good suggestions in
\norder to make the bills acceptable to the majority of the
\npeople,\" he said when he received Ichlasul Amal, rector of the
\nYogyakarta-based Gadjah Mada University, at the House on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Amal was accompanied by lecturers Mochtar Mas'oed, M. Machfud
\nand Rizal Panggabean. He presented to the legislator the results
\nof a dialog attended by 76 political parties on the university's
\ncampus on Saturday and Sunday.<\/p>\n
He said it was an honor for his university to host the dialog
\nin which more than 70 political parties could share experiences
\nand ideas on the political bills and the next general election.<\/p>\n
He said the political parties made no conclusion, agreement,
\nor recommendations because the dialog was not a political
\nactivity.<\/p>\n
Amal said discussions during the two-day meeting focussed on
\nthe electoral system, election campaigns, election committees,
\neducation for prospective voters, electoral monitoring and the
\ncode of conduct for the election. (rms)<\/p>",
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