Yogie defends 'nepotism' in House candidature<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M.
\ndefended yesterday the reportedly \"nepotistic\" recruitment of
\nlegislature candidates for the May 29 general election.<\/p>\n
He told the press to stop making mountains out of molehills,
\nsaying there was nothing wrong with the present provisional list
\nof candidates for 1997-2002 membership of the House of
\nRepresentatives.<\/p>\n
\"You should not exaggerate the extent of nepotism in
\nnominations to the House, there is nothing wrong with it if the
\ncandidates selected are capable of the job,\" he said after
\ninducting middle-ranked officials at the ministry's secretariat
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
\"What's important is that the candidates are capable of
\nrepresenting their people,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The list of candidates for the House of Representatives,
\nespecially the one drawn up by the ruling political grouping
\nGolkar, bears the strong presence of the offspring and wives of
\nhigh-ranking government and military officials.<\/p>\n
Also yesterday, Yogie encouraged the public to file complaints
\nto the General Elections Institute, which he chairs, should they
\nfind irregularities in the nomination of candidates.<\/p>\n
\"People can complain about any legislature candidates,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
However, he reiterated that complaints should be supported by
\nfacts. \"Don't lodge complaints based on hearsay and don't send
\nanonymous letters,\" he said.<\/p>\n
So far, the institute has yet to receive any complaints.<\/p>\n
The provisional list of legislature candidates was made public
\nMonday and the public have about a month to raise their
\nobjections before the final list is announced.<\/p>\n
Commenting on ousted Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) leader
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri's protest about the General Elections
\nInstitute's endorsement of the candidate list submitted by her
\nrival, Soerjadi, Yogie said: \"The government will remain firm on
\nits stance, namely recognizing only the legal chairmanship\".<\/p>\n
\"We won't drop the PDI legislative candidates submitted by
\nSoerjadi as they have met the legal and constitutional
\nrequirements,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Separately, secretary-general of the Ministry of Home Affairs
\nSuryatna Subrata said any complaints from Megawati would be
\ndelivered to the PDI central board -- in this case Soerjadi's
\nboard.<\/p>\n
He shared Yogie's opinion that the government should only
\nrecognize the PDI under Soerjadi. He also said the General
\nElections Institute was ready to face a lawsuit by Megawati.<\/p>\n
\"Megawati should realize she is no longer the chairperson of
\nPDI,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Megawati was democratically elected chairperson by popular
\nvote in an extraordinary congress in Surabaya in 1993. She was
\nunseated last June, when a government-sanctioned congress held in
\nthe North Sumatra capital of Medan elected Soerjadi as the new
\nparty leader.<\/p>\n
Also yesterday, some 50 Megawati supporters went to the
\nGeneral Elections Institute office to protest the institute's
\nendorsement of Soerjadi's list and rejection of Megawati's list.<\/p>\n
The delegation, led by PDI Jakarta chapter chairman Roy. B.B.
\nJanis, was received by deputy spokesman for the elections
\ninstitute A. Zumaidy.<\/p>\n
Roy told reporters the institute should not have endorsed
\nSoerjadi's list of candidates on grounds that the PDI leadership
\nwas still being tested in court. (imn)<\/p>",
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