KPU members threaten resignation<\/p>\n
Muhammad Nafik
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
All 11 members of the General Elections Commission (KPU) have
\nthreatened to resign en masse if the House of Representatives
\npasses a new election bill that would effectively undermine the
\ncommission's independence.<\/p>\n
Commission deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti warned on Thursday
\nthat commission members would resign in protest if the bill,
\nwhich furnishes the government with control over the commission,
\nwere passed.<\/p>\n
"We'd fight first. If it is futile, we will take a firmer
\nstance (resignation)," he stated, while two political bills --
\none on elections and the other on political parties -- were being
\ndeliberated at the House.<\/p>\n
Many believe that under the bill on elections currently being
\ndeliberated at the House, the commission would be liable to
\ngovernment intervention, as the commission, in its work, would be
\n"assisted" by a secretariat-general that would function under the
\nauspices by the Ministry of Home Affairs.<\/p>\n
The secretary-general and deputy would be civil servants
\nappointed and dismissed by the president based on proposals by
\nthe minister of home affairs.<\/p>\n
The secretariat-general would also have unbridled authority as
\nit would determine the commission's organizational structure and
\nworking mechanism.<\/p>\n
It will also manage the commission's finances and budget.<\/p>\n
The secretariat-general will also control data and information
\nrelated to the electoral process, including ballot tabulation.<\/p>\n
Ramlan had no reservations about the possible outcome of such
\na bill.<\/p>\n
"There's potential for manipulation and corruption in the 2004
\ngeneral election if KPU has no authority to control its
\nsecretariat-general," Ramlan said.<\/p>\n
A plethora of alleged electoral fraud from the 1999 general
\nelection still remains unresolved.<\/p>\n
Much of this had been due to the fact the previous commission
\nwas comprised of individuals and party representatives, who
\nthemselves took part in the electoral process.<\/p>\n
Despite various objections, including from non-governmental
\norganizations, the bill received support from senior Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and Golkar Party
\nlegislators.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan's Agustin Teras Narang even challenged
\ncommission members to make good on their resignation threat.<\/p>\n
Golkar's Yahya Zaini further argued that despite the fact that
\nthe secretariat-general was structurally tied to the bureaucracy,
\nthe commission could still serve as an independent poll
\norganizer.<\/p>\n
The General Elections Commission will present its own revision
\nto the two bills at a hearing with House Commission II on legal
\nand home affairs on July 11, which is chaired by Teras.<\/p>\n
Ramlan insists that full independence is an "absolute
\nprerequisite to fair and accountable elections," and this means
\nhaving full authority over its offices and staff, including the
\nsecretariat-general.<\/p>\n
He proposed that the commission set up its own secretariat-
\ngeneral, free of government control.<\/p>\n
Commission members were selected last year by the House after
\na presidential proposal to replace the previous commission, which
\ncomprised representatives from 48 parties and five government
\nappointees.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kpu-members-threaten-resignation-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}