KPU prepared for failures in elections<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Responding to gloomy predictions about the June
\n7 elections, General Elections Commission (KPU) chairman Rudini
\nacknowledged on Wednesday the body's preparation of strategies in
\nthe event of failure.<\/p>\n
\"There will be no need to be confused or frustrated if the
\nelections fail because we have our own strategies to face even
\nthe worst situation,\" he told the media after speaking at a
\nseminar on ways toward a free and fair general election and
\ndemocratic government, held at Hotel Borobudur in Central
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Rudini declined to elaborate on the contingency plans, saying
\nhe would reveal them only if the scheduled elections were
\ndisrupted.<\/p>\n
He expressed optimism the elections would proceed freely,
\nfairly and in accordance with the schedule because almost all of
\nthe preparations were complete.<\/p>\n
Besides staff members of the national election committee, he
\nsaid representatives of political parties, a government
\nrepresentative, election observers and two security guards would
\nbe stationed at all balloting sites to ensure security, fairness
\nand freedom.<\/p>\n
\"Elections results must be signed by all witnesses before they
\nare sent to regional election committees, where ballot papers
\nwill be processed with an on-line computer network operated by
\nthe election commission,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Preliminary results would be available within hours of the
\nvoting, he said.<\/p>\n
Rudini acknowledged the many attempts to discredit the
\ncommission, which he believed were aimed at disrupting the
\nelections.<\/p>\n
\"Preparations for the elections have been widely
\ncriticized... riots have been incited to scare the people and
\nall these are aimed at discrediting the government and foiling
\nthe elections.\"<\/p>\n
He also acknowledged the campaign period scheduled from May 19
\nthrough June 4 would be prone to clashes among party supporters.<\/p>\n
\"However, political parties will be responsible for organizing
\ntheir own campaigns and controlling their supporters so such
\nclashes could be avoided.<\/p>\n
\"Sporadic clashes may occur but they would not develop and
\nspread into nationwide chaos,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Saparinah Sadli, a scholar from the University of
\nIndonesia, criticized political parties for their lack of
\nstrategies to attract women voters, who would constitute a bigger
\nnumber of voters in the elections.<\/p>\n
\"Some parties have taken necessary measures, but most do not
\nhave any commitment to include gender issues in their platform,\"
\nshe said in a discussion on women voters here on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Secretary-general of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Faisal
\nBasri said in the discussion his party would not \"blow up\" the
\ngender issue as a ploy to grab as many votes as possible in the
\nelections.<\/p>\n
\"PAN has a general platform. Despite their majority, (issues
\nthat are of interest to) women voters will not be given a special
\nplace in the party's platform,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Antara news agency reported from Banda Aceh that as many as
\n10,000 volunteers from the local chapter of the Indonesian Muslim
\nStudents Association (HMI) were readied help monitor the
\nelections in the province.<\/p>\n
\"If manipulations are found and the legislative candidates do
\nnot represent us, we will persuade the Acehnese not to (vote),\"
\nMuhammad Saleh, chairman of the HMI Aceh chapter on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Saleh described how many people in the province were
\ndisappointed with the government and the military. They were now
\nunreceptive to the elections and would prefer to conduct a self-
\ndetermination referendum. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kpu-prepared-for-failures-in-elections-1447893297",
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