More support pours in for KPU liquidation<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Independent Election Monitoring Committee
\n(KIPP) threw its weight on Thursday behind a plan to dissolve the
\nGeneral Elections Commission (KPU), citing its failure to
\nmaintain impartiality.<\/p>\n
\"We observed KPU was not independent and impartial during last
\nyear's elections,\" secretary-general of the poll watchdog Mulyana
\nW. Kusumah told a seminar on local elections and the creation of
\nnew regions here. Several leaders of minor political parties
\nattended the seminar.<\/p>\n
The government has proposed that the House of Representatives
\namend the 1999 Election Law. The amendments include the
\ndissolution of KPU.<\/p>\n
House Speaker Akbar Tandjung responded positively to the
\nproposal, saying the legislative body should uphold the
\nliquidation of the 53-member KPU.<\/p>\n
Bickering within the KPU, which is comprised of five
\ngovernment representatives and 48 representatives of the
\npolitical parties contesting the polls, marred the election
\nprocess. The KPU was also widely criticized for breaching the
\nelection law and its own regulations.<\/p>\n
Mulyana stressed the need for an independent, professional and
\nimpartial body, as required by the State Policy Guidelines, to
\norganize the upcoming local elections and the 2004 general
\nelection.<\/p>\n
In accordance with the liquidation of the KPU, Mulyana said
\nthe existing election law should be revoked. He suggested that
\nthe government should instead enact a decree in lieu of law on
\nelections, pending a new election law.<\/p>\n
\"It will take us a long time to review the law, while the
\nlocal elections are approaching,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He hoped that the decree to replace the 1999 Election Law and
\nthe presidential decree on the new KPU could be completed in
\nOctober, the deadline for the government to hold local elections
\nin three new provinces and 21 new regencies.<\/p>\n
Political observer Affan Gafar shared Mulyana's view on the
\nliquidation of the KPU, but offered a different opinion on the
\nneed for local elections.<\/p>\n
\"Local elections are unnecessary because they will cost the
\ncountry a lot more money,\" Affan, who is also a government
\nrepresentative in the KPU, said.<\/p>\n
He suggested that the new regions form their respective
\nlegislative councils based on their share of the votes in last
\nyear's June elections.<\/p>\n
Local elections are scheduled to take place on June 10,
\nfollowing the creation of North Maluku, West Irian Jaya and
\nCentral Irian Jaya provinces early in October last year. The new
\nprovinces have been rocked with violence over the past year.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, chairman of the Local Elections Committee (PPL)
\nAgus Miftach speculated that money was behind the proposal to
\ndissolve the KPU.<\/p>\n
\"They are jealous. It's all about money,\" Agus, the chairman
\nof the Indonesian Peoples Party (Pari), said.<\/p>\n
PPL has proposed the government make available Rp 220 billion
\n(US$29 million) for the local elections.<\/p>\n
Agus said there had been no House approval of the government
\nplan to dissolve the KPU and that Akbar's support for it was in
\nhis personal capacity. (jun)<\/p>",
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