KPU slammed for overseas trips<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Six of nine members of the General Elections Commission (KPU) are
\ntraveling to the United States, Canada and Europe to disseminate
\ninformation to Indonesian voters living overseas, a move that has
\ndrawn criticism from poll watchdog activists.<\/p>\n
KPU member Mulyana W. Kusumah confirmed the overseas visits by
\nseveral of the commission's members, aimed at distributing
\ninformation on the 2004 elections.<\/p>\n
The trips are also to monitor the electoral preparations
\nabroad and establish overseas election committees, he added.<\/p>\n
He said that Anas Urbaningrum and Hamid Awaluddin had left for
\nCanada and San Francisco, while Daan Dimara, Rusadi Kantaprawira
\nand Ramlan Surbakti were visiting England, Germany and the
\nNetherlands, and Chusnul Mari'yah was visiting Morocco.<\/p>\n
"The trips are for one week," Mulyana said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
There are more than 143 million eligible voters at home, while
\nonly about two million Indonesian are expected to register as
\noverseas voters.<\/p>\n
However, overseas voters are mostly in the Middle East and
\nMalaysia, which employ many Indonesian workers.<\/p>\n
It was not clear why it was so important for the KPU members
\nto visit the U.S., Canada and Europe, particular since those
\ncountries are home to fewer Indonesian voters.<\/p>\n
Overseas voters will only account for votes for five seats at
\nthe House of Representatives.<\/p>\n
The general election is scheduled for April 5, 2004, and the
\npresidential election on July 5 and its run-off on Sept. 20.<\/p>\n
Coordinator of the Independent Committee for Election
\nMonitoring (KIPP) Ray Rangkuti criticized the KPU's overseas
\ntrips on Friday.<\/p>\n
KPU members should focus on their essential but unresolved
\ntasks at home instead of traveling abroad, he argued. "I do not
\nsee the significance of KPU's overseas visits as voters abroad
\nonly account for five seats in the House."<\/p>\n
"The Jakarta chapter of the KPU could carry out such a
\npromotional program abroad because overseas votes will go to the
\ncapital," Rangkuti said.<\/p>\n
He said KPU members needed to resolve their crucial and
\nuncompleted tasks at home, including the screening of political
\nparties, seat allocations, electoral district mapping.<\/p>\n
Another contentious issue was the KPU's plan to establish a
\nWest Irian Jaya chapter.<\/p>\n
Regarding the electoral district mapping, the KPU has a Monday
\ndeadline to finish the job.<\/p>\n
On the screening issue, a number of political parties have
\ndemanded that the commission hold a new round of administrative
\nverification after they were disqualified from contesting the
\n2004 elections.<\/p>\n
"If most of KPU members are going abroad, how will the
\ncommission decide on electoral district mapping and other
\nmatters?" Rangkuti asked.<\/p>\n
"I am extremely disappointed with the work of KPU members, who
\nare noted intellectuals. Before they assumed their jobs, they
\noften criticized government officials for traveling abroad
\nwithout a clear agenda. But now they are doing the same thing,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
He urged the KPU to publicly explain the results of its
\nmembers' overseas trips soon after their arrival home.<\/p>\n
However, their explanations would not change the public's
\nopinion that the KPU members lacked a sense of priority, Rangkuti
\nsaid.<\/p>",
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