KPU impartiality questioned in Medan<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan<\/p>\n
Direct regional elections in 13 regencies and municipalities in
\nNorth Sumatra on June 27 proceeded peacefully, even though the
\nelections had to be delayed for three days in Sibolga city due to
\ninadequate distribution of voter cards.<\/p>\n
Some General Elections Commissions (KPU) in respective cities
\nand regencies have already announced results of the direct
\nelections, the first in the country's history. Six regional
\nleaders were reelected, including Medan Mayor Abdillah.<\/p>\n
Although the KPU has officially declared winners in the
\nelections, many are questioning the legitimacy of their victory.
\nPolitical observers are of the opinion that some winners were not
\n100 percent clean in the manner that they campaigned.<\/p>\n
\"The KPU played an important role in helping certain
\ncandidates win the elections,\" said Sublihar, the dean of the
\nschool of social and political science at the North Sumatra
\nUniversity.<\/p>\n
There were indications that the KPU had taken sides in the
\nelections, said Sublihar. The Medan KPUD, for example, had
\ncanceled planned debates for Medan mayoral candidates.<\/p>\n
Sublihar alleged that the debate was canceled for fear that
\nincumbent mayor Abdillah, who has carried out several
\ncontroversial policies during his tenure, would lose votes.<\/p>\n
Among the controversial policies was a budget allocation that
\nraised public concern.<\/p>\n
This year, the Medan mayoralty administration under Abdillah
\nearmarked Rp 114 billion (US$11.7 million) for park management
\noffices, while offices for public works, health, cooperatives and
\neducation, which are much more important, were only allocated Rp
\n62 billion.<\/p>\n
Besides canceling the debate, the Medan KPU also put forward
\nthe schedule for the announcement of Medan election results.<\/p>\n
According to the schedule, the victory of the Abdillah-Ramli
\nteam was supposed to be announced on July 5, but for no reason it
\nwas suddenly announced on July 3.<\/p>\n
The move was condemned by many, including the campaign team of
\nAbdillah and Ramli rival's Maulana and Sigit. In protest, Maulana
\nand Sigit refused to attend the announcement of the Medan
\nelection results.<\/p>\n
Head of the Maulana-Sigit campaign team, Ikrimah Hamidy, said
\nthat the KPU had taken sides and had therefore caused them
\nlosses. However, chairman of Medan KPU, Nelly Armayanti, denied
\nthat the KPU had taken sides in the elections. She said that the
\nKPU had tried hard to maintain neutrality and impartiality during
\nthe elections.<\/p>\n
Contacted separately, chairman of North Sumatra KPU, Irham
\nBuana Nasution, said that KPU members should be neutral during
\nelections. He said that the North Sumatra KPU would investigate
\nalleged KPU partiality during the Medan elections and stern
\npunishment would be imposed on those members of Medan KPU who
\nsupported any particular candidates in the elections.<\/p>",
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