Panwaslu officials face threats, continued violations<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Semarang\/Mataram\/Makassar<\/p>\n
The occupational hazards of supervising the electoral
\npreparations became clear on Thursday as a provincial election
\nsupervisory official reported to police that he had been
\nreceiving threats to his person.<\/p>\n
Head of the Central Java Election Supervisory Committee
\n(Panwaslu) Nur Hidayat Sardini said he had requested police
\nprotection after receiving threatening text messages to his
\ncellular phone from Jan. 5 to Jan. 7.<\/p>\n
He said the messages included those that said: \"I know what
\ntime you leave home and return to the office ...\"; \"I know where
\nyou live and that your wife is now alone at home\".<\/p>\n
Nur Hidayat said he suspected several regents and their
\nsupporters from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan), because the Committee had taken measures against
\ntheir activities that were considered disguised campaigning.<\/p>\n
\"My wife is quite shocked by the threats,\" he said. Nur has
\nfiled a report with Central Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Didi
\nWidayadi.<\/p>\n
Nur said 11 regents in the province also led PDI Perjuangan
\nchapters, and that their disguised campaigns included school
\ntextbooks in their respective regions donning red covers and
\npublic officials wearing red jackets.<\/p>\n
Red is the official color of the party.<\/p>\n
In Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, the provincial Panwaslu
\nremoved some 100 flags, banners and other party paraphernalia
\nfrom various public facilities. Mataram Panwaslu head Qazuini
\nsaid the Committee would remove such promotional material if
\nparty officials did not do so.<\/p>\n
Committee officials were accompanied by a team of armed police
\nwhile carrying out their task.<\/p>\n
Muhammad Nur, leader of Golkar's Ampenan district chapter,
\nprotested, \"The party flag (that was removed) was on my private
\nproperty.\"<\/p>\n
Qazuini said the measures were decided last month between the
\nPanwaslu, the General Elections Commission (KPU) and the Mataram
\nadministration. The three bodies had agreed that promotional
\nmaterial could only be displayed at specific locations such as
\nthe headquarters of parties, at the Panwaslu and the KPU.<\/p>\n
In Makassar, South Sulawesi, the Regional General Elections
\nCommission (KPUD) returned some 1,000 sets of documents submitted
\nby legislative candidates from 24 parties, saying they were
\neither incomplete or questionable.<\/p>\n
KPUD member Muhammad Darwis added that none of the parties had
\nfulfilled the 30 percent quota for women candidates, and that
\nonly 287 out of 1,119 candidates, or about 26 percent, were
\nwomen.<\/p>\n
Parties have until Jan. 19 to meet the quota.<\/p>\n
The Coalition of South Sulawesi Women Activists (KAPSS) said
\nnone of the parties ranked women aspirants high on their
\nprovincial candidacy lists. At the municipal and regental levels,
\nonly 20 women from 15 parties were given top slots.<\/p>\n
The numerical order of candidates determine their chances of
\ngetting a legislative seat, if their party wins enough votes.<\/p>\n
KAPSS spokesperson Husaemah Husain said if parties still
\nfailed to meet expectations in their final lists, the
\norganization would advocate against voting for those parties.<\/p>\n
Activists have been pushing for the minimum 30 percent quota
\nfor women legislative candidates, which is stipulated in the
\nGeneral Elections Law, but has not been enforced.<\/p>\n
The quota was established in a bid to give women a greater
\nvoice in the legislature.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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