KPU rapped for accommodating late applicants<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The General Elections Commission (KPU) and its regional offices
\n(KPUDs) are copping public criticism for accepting revised
\ncandidature documents after the deadline and thereby undermining
\nthe commission's credibility.<\/p>\n
Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP) executive
\ndirector Ray Rangkuti said on Tuesday that the poll watchdog
\nfound political parties had violated the Monday 4 p.m. deadline
\nin many places, without punitive measures from elections
\ncommissions.<\/p>\n
KIPP volunteers noticed that the regional elections commission
\nin the North Sumatra regency of North Tapanuli allowed 12
\npolitical parties to submit revised documents up until 10:18
\np.m., more than six hours after the deadline.<\/p>\n
\"Even in East Nusa Tenggara, the provincial KPUD is allowing
\nthe National Mandate Party (PAN) to present documents of its
\nlegislative candidates up until Jan. 26,\" Ray said.<\/p>\n
He added that in the West Java regency of Karawang, the local
\nKPUD accepted revised documents from two rival executive boards
\nof a party, but such a case was unacceptable in the West Nusa
\nTenggara regency of West Lombok.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the
\nNational Mandate Party (PAN), the Social Democratic Labor Party
\n(PBSD), the Indonesian Unity Party (PSI), the United Democratic
\nNationhood Party (PPDK) and the Democratic Party only managed to
\nhand their documents to the KPU up to 10 minutes after the
\ndeadline.<\/p>\n
\"Such a practice should not occur,\" Ray told a press
\nconference.<\/p>\n
Later in the day, KPU member Anas Urbaningrum, who chairs the
\nteam verifying legislative candidates, said he would check KIPP's
\nreports, particularly the case in East Nusa Tenggara.<\/p>\n
\"Well, we did not specifically instruct KPUDs to close their
\noffices for the submission of the revised documents at 4 p.m. on
\nMonday,\" Anas said.<\/p>\n
He disclosed that there were attempts by some parties to
\nsubmit names of additional male legislative aspirants to the KPU,
\nbut said the commission would definitely not accept the extra
\ncandidates as it violated the general election regulations.<\/p>\n
He refused to identify the political parties, or to discuss
\nthe commission's promise to take punitive measures against them.<\/p>\n
The election regulations bans any party from registering extra
\ncandidates after the deadline, except for women candidates in
\naccordance with the recommended 30 percent quota for women.<\/p>\n
Anas dismissed reports that the number of legislative
\ncandidates had declined due to revisions made by the 24 parties
\nto their list of candidates,<\/p>\n
He said the figure had increased instead, as some parties had
\nadded the names of women legislative aspirants.<\/p>\n
The Democratic Party has added another eight women legislative
\ncandidates, the Prosperous Justice Party 2, the Crescent Star
\nParty 14, the Concern for the Nation Functional Party 7, the
\nReform Star Party 42 and the Prosperous Peace Party 58.<\/p>\n
Ray urged the KPU to immediately give the public access to
\ninformation about legislative candidates to help them identify
\nand know them better.<\/p>\n
\"This will make it easier for people to choose their
\nlegislative candidates,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Parties have no obligation to publicly disclose their
\nlegislative candidates, who will be announced by the KPU between
\nJan. 28 and Jan. 29.<\/p>\n
During the April 5 general election, voters will punch a party
\nsymbol and the name of one candidate nominated by the party. The
\nballot is still valid in the case of only the party symbol being
\npunched.<\/p>",
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