KPU dismisses parties' call for repeat election<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The General Elections Commission (KPU) turned down on Monday a
\ndemand for a nationwide reelection by a score of political
\nparties contesting the legislative election.<\/p>\n
KPU chairman Nazaruddin Sjamsudin said that the political
\nparties failed to come up with a strong case, as they could only
\ncite a small number of irregularities in polling stations.<\/p>\n
"If they (political parties) can only bring forth violations
\nof election regulations in some polling stations or at the local
\nlevel, do we need a nationwide reelection?," Nazaruddin said,
\nreferring to the demand made by 19 of 24 political parties
\ncontesting the election.<\/p>\n
The demand, he said, had also been a standing insult to the
\npublic, who had participated in the April 5 election in a
\npeaceful and transparent manner.<\/p>\n
Nazaruddin said the parties' demand stemmed from the fact that
\nthey had failed to garner substantial support from voters.<\/p>\n
"The political parties should act in accordance with a number
\nof standing regulations. For instance, they should file their
\ncomplaints on the election result with the Constitutional Court,
\nrather than resorting to such an unpopular move," he said.<\/p>\n
Spearheaded by former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid's
\nNational Awakening Party (PKB), the parties rejected on Sunday
\nthe legitimacy of the legislative election and demanded a
\nnationwide reelection, citing rampant vote-rigging.<\/p>\n
On Monday, 21 political parties, not including President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
\n(PDI-P), Golkar and the upstart Democratic Party, renewed their
\ncall in rejecting the validity of the legislative election.<\/p>\n
The group dismissed any criticism directed toward them that
\nsaid they had betrayed the people's aspirations while making the
\ndemand. "On the contrary, we are striving to channel the people's
\naspirations, which have been hijacked due to rampant vote-
\nrigging," Adi Sasono of the Freedom Party told a media briefing
\nhere.<\/p>\n
Interim Coordinating Minister for Political and Security
\nAffairs Hari Sabarno said the political parties should have
\nfollowed formal procedures in venting their resentment.<\/p>\n
"People have made their choice and if these parties disliked
\nhow it has turned out, then they should complain to the people,"
\nHari said.<\/p>\n
Leader of the United Development Party (PPP) Hamzah Haz, also
\nvice president in the Megawati administration, said that his
\nparty had yet to decide its stance on the election result.<\/p>\n
"Ballot counting is not over yet, so what's the fuss all
\nabout? We should refrain from misleading the people," he said.<\/p>\n
The country's largest Muslim organization, the Nahdlatul Ulama
\n(NU), also expressed dismay at the political parties' latest
\nmove, saying that it could disrupt the upcoming direct
\npresidential election and plunge the country into deeper crisis.<\/p>\n
"We oppose the parties' move, as it could trigger crisis in
\nthe country's leadership. It's simply unwise," NU chairman Hasyim
\nMuzadi said.<\/p>\n
Hasyim called on the political parties to take legal action on
\nirregularities that had taken place during the election.<\/p>\n
However, he dismissed a notion that his stance on the issue
\nhad anything to do with his tacit rivalry with Gus Dur, who was
\nalso a patron of PKB.<\/p>\n
"With or without Gus Dur, we would still be saying that
\nrejecting the validity of the legislative election is not
\nacceptable," Hasyim said.<\/p>\n
A number of leading scholars and human rights activists, led
\nby Todung Mulya Lubis and Munir, called the demand a political
\nadventure by members of a political elite, who denigrated the
\npeople's sovereignty.<\/p>\n
"The lack of transparency in the election as perceived by the
\npolitical parties should be responded to with a limited
\nreelection or limited recounting," a joint statement signed by 15
\npeople says.<\/p>",
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