New regencies not ready for local polls: Official<\/p>\n
PEKANBARU, Riau (JP): An assistant to the state minister of
\nregional autonomy, Andi Alfian Mallarangeng, urged planned
\nelections in newly formed provinces and regencies be postponed.<\/p>\n
Mallarangeng said the areas' financial and security
\npreparations for the elections were insufficient.<\/p>\n
\"The planned local elections should be canceled because the
\nnew provinces and regencies lack the necessary software. Social
\nconflicts are also still raging in those areas,\" he said during a
\npanel discussion here on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Local elections originally were planned for June 1 following
\nthe government's decision to increase the number of provinces in
\nIndonesia. Follow-up elections also are scheduled in some areas
\nof Aceh which could not hold elections last year due to security
\nconcerns.<\/p>\n
All told, local elections are planned for 43 regencies in
\nAceh, and in the new provinces of North Maluku, West Papua and
\nCentral Papua.<\/p>\n
Mallarangeng, who is also a member of the General Elections
\nCommission (KPU), said given the present economic conditions, it
\nalso would be financially burdensome to the government to
\nallocate the estimated Rp 220 billion required to hold the
\nelections.<\/p>\n
He added that most political parties also would find it
\ndifficult to mount serious campaigns given their expenditures in
\nthe June 7 general election.<\/p>\n
\"Furthermore, numerous parties have proposed the government
\ngive them Rp 500 million each for the elections.<\/p>\n
\"Nobody is barred from establishing parties, but don't ask the
\ngovernment for money,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Mallarangeng said it was important for local elections to be
\nheld, but their success depended on whether conditions were
\nfavorable for such an important undertaking.<\/p>\n
Security, the availability of financing, the political
\nparties' preparedness to campaign and the participation of voters
\nare crucial factors that have to be taken into consideration, he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Mallarangeng said the first step after postponing local
\nelections in some areas was simply to refer to the overall
\nresults of the June 7 general election to ensure representation
\nfor those areas.<\/p>\n
For example, the provincial legislative council in North
\nMaluku could comprise parties in proportion to the results of the
\nJune elections in all of Maluku.<\/p>\n
Following this step, a more independent and professional
\nelections commission should be formed to organize the local
\nelections, he said.<\/p>\n
The House of Representatives and the government recently
\nagreed to revise the law on general elections to pave the way for
\nthe President to dissolve KPU and establish a new, independent
\nbody.(11)<\/p>",
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