Journalists educated on poll coverage<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Even as political parties gear up for the June 7
\ngeneral election, journalists are being trained to improve their
\nknowledge of various aspects of the election.<\/p>\n
One of the training programs, organized by the Indonesian
\nMedia Watch (IMW), is a workshop for reporters on election
\nmonitoring between March 1 and March 5 in Surabaya, the capital
\nof East Java, Antara reported on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The program coordinator for IMW, Didik Puji Yowono, said the
\nworkshop aimed to develop insights into possible irregularities
\nin the election.<\/p>\n
\"It is hard to imagine that the next general election can be
\nconducted without violence. However, a fair and free election is
\na must. But who's going to guarantee it,\" Didik asked.<\/p>\n
\"It is important to know where the loopholes exist for fraud
\nand other such practices,\" Didik said.<\/p>\n
The British Broadcasting Corporation will also give a series
\nof workshops on editorial skills for local radio journalists and
\nbroadcasters. The workshops will enable radio stations to develop
\nawareness of the electoral process, the British Embassy noted in
\na press statement.<\/p>\n
Also, workshops for political parties here will be given by
\nBritain's Westminster Foundation for Democracy, the release said.
\nThis program aims to help political parties develop a code of
\nconduct for the election, including respect for fair play in the
\ncontext of newly enacted political laws.<\/p>\n
Separately in Yogyakarta, political observer Ichlasul Amal of
\nGadjah Mada University urged small parties to establish a fusion
\nrather than a coalition.<\/p>\n
\"How can a party merge with others without knowing its own
\nstrengths or its future partners,\" Ichlasul said after a student
\ndialog on elections.<\/p>\n
It is possible to form a fusion before the elections, unlike a
\ncoalition which has to wait until after the results of the poll,
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
So far 147 political parties have registered with the Ministry
\nof Justice. Of these, 116 parties have been given corporate body
\nstatus, while the remaining 31 parties have until Wednesday to
\ncomplete registration requirements.<\/p>\n
The following are some of the activities of political parties
\nand their members:<\/p>\n
* The National Awakening Party (PKB), the United Development
\nParty and the faction of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI)
\nled by Budi Hardjono banded together on Tuesday to deploy
\nhundreds of supporters to protest Golkar's control of the social
\nsafety net fund in Tegal, Central Java.<\/p>\n
Reports said that many residents there were given a portion of
\nthe fund in return for a promised vote for Golkar in the next
\npoll.<\/p>\n
\"The fund is a loan from the World Bank. Why did Golkar claim
\nthat the money came from it? Do not fool the people,\" Asikin
\nKaharudin of PKB said.<\/p>\n
\"We will boycott the poll if Golkar continues such practices,\"
\nErnawati of PDI added.<\/p>\n
* The National Mandate Party (PAN) lost one member of its
\nparty advisory council, Usman Pelly, who chose to remain a civil
\nservant rather than staying in politics.<\/p>\n
\"I chose to remain a professor of anthropology at Medan
\nTeachers Training College. I submitted my resignation to PAN
\nchairman Amien Rais two weeks ago,\" Usman was quoted as saying by
\nAntara on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\"I just want to concentrate on educational matters,\" he added.<\/p>\n
* The United Development Party, through its branch in Central
\nJava, nominated its chairman, State Minister of
\nInvestment\/Chairman of the Investment Coordinating Board Hamzah
\nHaz, as its presidential candidate.<\/p>\n
Branch chairman Karmani said on Monday, \"Our champion is
\nHamzah Haz. We will not nominate (President) B.J. Habibie because
\nPak Hamzah is one of the best PPP party members. He deserves to
\nbecome president.\" (edt\/har\/44\/45)<\/p>",
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