KNPI pledges to guard election<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian youths vowed yesterday to help the
\nArmed Forces maintain order during the May 29 general election
\nand the presidential election in March next year.<\/p>\n
Leaders of the National Committee of Indonesian Youths (KNPI),
\nan umbrella for 39 youth groups, told Armed Forces (ABRI)
\nCommander Gen. Feisal Tanjung they would support legal actions
\nundertaken by the military to quell any attempts to disturb the
\npolls and the general assembly of the People's Consultative
\nAssembly.<\/p>\n
\"The Armed Forces with its defense and sociopolitical roles is
\nall that people can rely on to make the election and the general
\nassembly a success,\" the youths said in a statement delivered by
\nrepresentative Ali Masykur Musa.<\/p>\n
The promise was made at a ceremony marking the deployment of
\nKNPI's 15,000-strong backup election security forces at Senayan's
\neastern parking lot.<\/p>\n
Also present were State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports
\nHayono Isman, Armed Forces Chief of Sociopolitical Affairs Let.
\nGen. Syarwan Hamid, Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja, Jakarta
\nmilitary commander Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso and President Soeharto's
\nson Bambang Trihatmodjo, who is chairman of an association
\ngrouping the children of Armed Forces' veterans.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the politically well-connected KNPI, Maulana
\nIsman, failed to turn up due to ill health. He is the younger
\nbrother of Minister Hayono Isman.<\/p>\n
The pledge came amid growing calls from unrecognized groups to
\nboycott the May 29 poll.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Democratic Union Party, led by politician Sri
\nBintang Pamungkas, has announced a program to boycott the
\nelection. Anonymous groups also circulated leaflets in several
\ntowns recently urging people not to exercise their right to vote.<\/p>\n
Surveys in Malang, East Java and Yogyakarta found that the
\nmajority of students responding to a questionnaire said they
\nwould abstain from voting.<\/p>\n
President Soeharto told youths and students recently to uphold
\ntheir responsibility to political stability through participation
\nin the election.<\/p>\n
Soeharto has also repeatedly warned of harsh penalties against
\npeople who try to persuade others not to vote or attempt to
\nobstruct them from visiting polling booths.<\/p>\n
Bintang was the first to be charged with encouraging people to
\nboycott the election when he was arrested March 5. The Attorney
\nGeneral's Office extended his detention period last week.<\/p>\n
The United Development Party (PPP), the dominant Golkar and
\nthe Indonesian Democratic Party will contest the May election.<\/p>\n
The KNPI also urged the election contestants to refrain from
\nunethical practices to gain support.<\/p>\n
\"Each political organization must uphold ethics which derive
\nfrom the Pancasila state ideology and the 1945 Constitution,\" it
\nsaid in the statement. \"They also have to respect the principles
\nof a direct, general and confidential election.\"<\/p>\n
The KNPI also commented on brawls and riots pitting Golkar and
\nPPP supporters in the Central Java towns of Pekalongan, Rembang,
\nBanjarnegara, Temanggung and Wonosobo.<\/p>\n
Security authorities have sought legal proceedings against
\npreacher Afifudin Musytari Al Hafidz on a charge of inciting the
\nPekalongan rioters. The Central Java military command has banned
\nall gatherings ahead of the May election.<\/p>\n
Gen. Feisal hailed the KNPI's pledge, stating that the Armed
\nForces was nothing without the help of the people.<\/p>\n
\"Everybody has to take part in maintaining national stability,
\nincluding youths and students, so that the boiling political
\ntemperature ahead of the election remains under control,\" he
\nsaid. (amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/knpi-pledges-to-guard-election-1447893297",
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