KPU firm with its decision on poll campaigns<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The General Elections Commission (KPU) as of
\nTuesday was standing firm on its Code of Conduct barring parties
\nfrom involving ministers in campaigns, while the government
\nsuggested a meeting between the commission and the President to
\nresolve the stalemate.<\/p>\n
\"The President or the minister of home affairs should hold
\ntalks with the commission to find a middle path on this matter.
\nLet's discuss it in a clear and calm manner,\" Minister of Justice
\nMuladi said.<\/p>\n
Commission deputy chairman Harun Alrasid said the commission
\ndid not discuss the Supreme Court's legal opinion on the issue of
\nwhether ministers could be involved in campaigns during its
\nplenary session on Tuesday because the government had not sent
\nthe commission a copy of the opinion.<\/p>\n
\"We know about the legal opinion from newspapers and the
\ntelevision,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Commission member Jacob Tobing of the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) said the fact that the Supreme
\nCourt's legal opinion was not discussed meant \"the commission
\nremained firm in its decision\".<\/p>\n
The Supreme Court on Monday issued a legal opinion on the
\nmatter at the request of acting Minister of Home Affairs Feisal
\nTanjung.<\/p>\n
The opinion states the commission, while independent, answers
\nto the President, who is in charge of the election according to a
\ndecree of the People's Consultative Assembly.<\/p>\n
The court said the KPU had no right to rule on the actions and
\nroles of ministers, who are the President's assistants.<\/p>\n
Harun, also a constitutional law expert, said the commission
\ndid not have to consider the court's legal opinion because it was
\nnot binding.<\/p>\n
Harun also said the Supreme Court violated procedures because
\nsuch a legal opinion must be requested by the President. Muladi
\nrefuted Harun's comments.<\/p>\n
Satya Arinanto, a constitutional law expert at the University
\nof Indonesia, called on Golkar and the government to comply with
\nthe elections commission's ruling.<\/p>\n
He deplored the Supreme Court's legal opinion for being issued
\nafter the elections commission already had issued its Code of
\nConduct on campaigns.<\/p>\n
\"The court's legal opinion is no longer relevant and the
\nelections commission does not have to take it into consideration
\nbecause its decision has been made.\"<\/p>\n
Mochtar Masoed, a political scientist at Gadjah Mada
\nUniversity in Yogyakarta, hailed the elections commission's Code
\nof Conduct.<\/p>\n
\"KPU had the authority to make a code of ethics for the
\nelection campaign.\"<\/p>\n
Officials' abuse of power in past campaigns was one factor
\nwhich led to the decision to bar parties from recruiting all
\ngovernment officials, military members and civil servants in the
\ncampaign, he said.<\/p>\n
However, scholars also have criticized the KPU for failing to
\nconsult with the President before issuing its Code of Conduct.<\/p>\n
KPU chairman Rudini said the commission was authorized to
\nissue rulings on the election, including the one barring parties
\nfrom recruiting government officials in the campaign.<\/p>\n
The commission, however, also has been criticized for \"double
\nstandards\" because it ruled that commission members could
\ncampaign and run for seats in the legislature. The court's legal
\nopinion barred KPU members from doing either.<\/p>\n
Minister\/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung has said, with the
\nPresident's permission, he would take an unpaid leave from his
\nministerial post to campaign for Golkar.<\/p>\n
Akbar, also the chairman of Golkar, said on Tuesday he was
\nconsidering replacing Golkar's representative on the elections
\ncommission, Mahadi Sinambela, to allow Mahadi to campaign for
\nGolkar and run for a seat in the legislature.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Central Java provincial chapter of the United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP) urged party chairman State Minister of
\nInvestment Hamzah Haz and party deputy State Minister of Food and
\nHorticulture A.M. Saefuddin, to leave their ministerial posts so
\nthey would be able to campaign for PPP. (rms\/edt\/prb\/har)<\/p>",
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