Universities form poll watchdog<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Fourteen private and state universities in the
\ncountry are banding together in an election watchdog to ensure
\nnext year's poll is aboveboard.<\/p>\n
The University Network For a Free and Fair Election (UNFREL)
\nwill be officially launched on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\"Our vision is to create the new democratic Indonesia through
\na fair and just election,\" Ani Sutjipto of the University of
\nIndonesia said on Friday during the inaugural meeting of the new
\ngroup.<\/p>\n
So far, 14 of the 34 universities invited have already
\nconfirmed their participation in the network, she said.<\/p>\n
They include University of Indonesia, Trisakti and Atma Jaya
\nin Jakarta, Gadjah Mada (Yogyakarta), Airlangga and Sepuluh
\nNovember Institute of Technology (Surabaya), Hasanuddin
\n(Ujungpandang), Diponegoro (Semarang) and Andalas (Padang).<\/p>\n
Although the election is not scheduled until June, the forum's
\nwork will begin immediately in gathering data and monitoring the
\ndeliberations of the political bills in the House of
\nRepresentatives.<\/p>\n
The network will also launch a voter-education program through
\nits publications and workshops.<\/p>\n
Leading student activist Rama Pratama of the University of
\nIndonesia said the establishment of UNFREL was part of the
\nongoing students' struggle for political reforms.<\/p>\n
\"The reform movement belongs to students. No one can snatch it
\naway from them,\" said the former chairman of the university's
\nstudent senate.<\/p>\n
Minister of Education and Culture Juwono Sudarsono gave his
\nblessing to UNFREL by turning up at the forum's inaugural
\nmeeting.<\/p>\n
\"Please be very careful... You have to keep an objective and
\nclear view on the matter. This is a tough job to do,\" he said.
\n(edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/universities-form-poll-watchdog-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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