KPU's problems not just academic, political spats<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Academics and activists frequently criticize government policies
\nand their implementation, often upsetting government officials in
\nthe process. These proponents of change say they are merely
\nexercising their freedom of speech.<\/p>\n
But what happens when the academics and activists become the
\nofficials?<\/p>\n
This happened in the creation of the now-troubled General
\nElections Commission (KPU). The KPU was heralded by many as the
\nideal body to organize a general election, because its members
\nwere independent and respected scholars and activists. They were
\nrecruited after undergoing tight scrutiny from the House of
\nRepresentatives (DPR).<\/p>\n
The commission is headed by Nazaruddin Sjamsuddin, a professor
\nof politics, while Ramlan Surbakti, a political scientist, is the
\ndeputy.<\/p>\n
Two of the 11 original commission members, Imam Prasodjo and
\nCatholic priest Mudji Sutrisno, quit shortly after the House
\napproved them last year -- a protest against the requirement to
\nresign from their previous jobs.<\/p>\n
The seven remaining members are Mulyana W. Kusumah, Chusnul
\nMar'iyah, Anas Urbaningrum, Valina Singka Subekti, Rusadi
\nKantaprawira, Hamid Awaluddin and Daan Dimara.<\/p>\n
In the New Order regime, the electoral institution comprised
\ngovernment officials. In 1999, the commission consisted of
\ngovernment officials, political experts and political parties'
\nrepresentatives.<\/p>\n
Therefore, it is understandable if public expectations for the
\ncurrent KPU to prepare free and fair elections are high.<\/p>\n
To be fair, the commission has had a huge task in running this
\nyear's elections, which comprise three different events: the far-
\nmore complex, four-vote April 5 legislative election, the July 5
\ndirect presidential election and a possible runoff on Sept. 20.<\/p>\n
Registered voters number no less than 147 million people in an
\narchipelago, made up of 17,000 islands. The commission is in
\ncharge of distributing 660 million ballot papers to nearly
\n600,000 polling stations.<\/p>\n
But election preparations have gone badly and many people are
\ndisappointed about the increasing likelihood of voting delays in
\nthe legislative election.<\/p>\n
This messy preparation might be the results of, among other
\nthings, the KPU's internal disharmony and disarray.<\/p>\n
In a characteristic mistake last year, the commission issued a
\ncircular to regional KPUs to collect political party membership
\ncards, so it could speed up the factual verification of voters.<\/p>\n
A day later, it issued another circular revoking the earlier
\none, saying it contained a procedural error.<\/p>\n
In a critical meeting to annul ballot box tender winner
\nSurvindo Indah Prestasi in December last year, several members of
\nthe commission were not informed of the meeting.<\/p>\n
KPU official Chusnul Mar'iyah, who heads the logistics
\ndivision, has also rescinded the authority of KPU member Mulyana
\nW. Kusumah to monitor the ballot boxes production.<\/p>\n
The same decision occurred once again over a ballot paper
\nprinting tender.<\/p>\n
Commission members have openly showed their distrust of one
\nanother especially in carrying out the tenders process. Their
\ntransition from outspoken government critics to officials in
\ncharge of a huge task -- and vast amounts of money -- has not
\nbeen a smooth one. The two bosses, Nazaruddin and Ramlan, have
\nalso often issued contradictory statements.<\/p>\n
Despite these shortcomings, the commission is still respected
\nby many as an independent and authoritative body.<\/p>",
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