Rectors issue code for poll monitoring<\/p>\n
By Ainur R. Sophiaan<\/p>\n
DENPASAR, Bali (JP): A national congress of rectors from
\ndozens of institutions across the country issued a code of
\nconduct which it suggested could be adopted by all volunteer poll
\nmonitors.<\/p>\n
The congress, which ended Saturday at the Grand Bali Beach
\nHotel in Sanur, was held as part of the planned recruitment of
\n450,000 students to monitor voting at 75 percent of the estimated
\n600,000 polling booths during the general election scheduled for
\nJune 7.<\/p>\n
The rectors are grouped in the Indonesian Rectors Forum, which
\nhas established the Independent Committee for the Elections and
\nDemocratization.<\/p>\n
Taking part in the second congress were 139 representatives
\nfrom various colleges and universities. The first congress of
\nrectors was held in Bandung, West Java last November.<\/p>\n
The nine-point code of conduct stated that poll monitors
\nshould be free from any political interests. This includes having
\nno associations with any organization contesting the polls, not
\nreceiving funds or facilities from any poll contestant and being
\nhonest, objective and responsible to society and God.<\/p>\n
Volunteers are also expected to respect human rights, to
\nserve as poll monitors of their own free will and be willing to
\ntake an oath swearing them into their duties.<\/p>\n
A number of independent election monitoring institutes have
\nbeen established since the founding of the Independent Election
\nMonitoring Committee, which monitored the 1997 polls.<\/p>\n
Some officials, including Minister of Education and Culture
\nJuwono Sudarsono, have issued warnings about the possibility of
\nstudents serving as poll monitors being injured. However, the
\ncurrent government is no longer opposed to independent monitors.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed a memorandum of
\nunderstanding last week with the United Nations Development
\nProgram, which is coordinating foreign donations for election
\nmonitoring training projects.<\/p>\n
The rector of Udayana University in Denpasar, I Ketut
\nSukardika, told The Jakarta Post on Sunday that students involved
\nin monitoring the polls should have \"moral integrity\" and
\nadequate intellectual capacity. \"We will not involve students who
\nhave been influenced by radical movements,\" the veterinarian said
\nwithout naming any groups.<\/p>\n
The second congress also agreed to establish a Human Resource
\nDevelopment Foundation to help monitor the elections, according
\nto Anton Priyatno, the rector of Surabaya University, who was
\nappointed secretary of the foundation.<\/p>\n
The rector of the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Lilik
\nHendrajaya, was appointed chairman of the foundation and
\nSukardika was named treasurer. Sujana Syafe'i, a professor at
\nITB, was named executive director.<\/p>\n
Anton said the foundation would also recruit professors and
\nemployees from universities and colleges.<\/p>\n
\"The foundation's main task will be to form a network (of
\nelection monitors) between state-run and private institutions of
\nhigher education,\" Anton said.<\/p>\n
Sujana said the foundation would first complete a
\ncomprehensive study of how free, fair and safe the elections
\ncould be expected to be. The study, which has begun, is expected
\nto be completed by the end of the month.<\/p>\n
The network will also monitor all phases of the poll on
\nelection day.<\/p>\n
However, Sujana estimated that the foundation would only be
\nable to monitor 3 percent of polling booths in each province.<\/p>\n
The foundation also aims to provide voter education for 10
\npercent of the population, particularly first-time voters.<\/p>\n
Sujana also said that independent election monitors would be
\ntrained in statistics at ITB. A network of computers would also
\nbe installed to support the operations.<\/p>\n
Regarding a possible overlap with other independent poll
\nobservers, Anton suggested that all monitors cooperate in the
\nundertaking. The Independent Election Monitoring Committee
\nwelcomes the additional election monitors given the vast amount
\nof territory to be covered by the observers.<\/p>\n
\"We could divide the country between the monitors,\" Anton
\nsaid, adding that the issue was being worked out.<\/p>\n
Sujana estimated some Rp 140 billion would be needed to fund
\nthe election monitors, and said \"several conglomerates\" were
\nready to help as long as the use of the funds could be accounted
\nfor.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rectors-issue-code-for-poll-monitoring-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}