24 organizations receive UNDP funds for elections
24 organizations receive UNDP funds for elections
JAKARTA (JP): The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
announced the contribution of US$36 million to 24 Indonesian
organizations for electoral activities.
In a statement received by The Jakarta Post on Thursday, UNDP
said the largest share of the funds was received by the General
Elections Commission. The commission will receive $30 million for
technical and material electoral infrastructure support.
UNDP would provide funds for ballot papers, indelible ink, a
national tally room for election-eve results, an official
tabulation system and training for poll workers, the statement
said.
Funds allocated to the Independent Monitoring Election
Committee (KIPP) for independent poll monitoring activities
comprised Rp 2.7 billion ($315,000), the University Network for a
Free and Fair Election received Rp 5.1 billion and an additional
amount still under discussion was for the Rector's Forum. The
latter comprises campus community members.
"A total of $9 million has been earmarked for monitoring," the
release said.
UNDP earlier announced that among several private poll
monitoring bodies it had named the above three as intended fund
recipients.
For voter education, UNDP said it had selected 21 non-
governmental organizations, which would receive about Rp 41.9
billion.
Recipients include the Indonesian Alliance of Election
Monitoring in West Sumatra, which targets traditional community
leaders, first-time voters, civil servants, military members,
villagers and illiterate people.
Another recipient is Almanak Parpol Indonesia, a group
preparing an almanac on political parties, which targets
politicians, academics and students.
Five womens' groups among the recipients include Muslimat
Nahdlatul Ulama with a mainly rural constituency and the Women's
Movement of Elections Awareness, an umbrella group, which, among
others, comprise the national women's organization, Kowani.
Two journalist organizations on the list are PWI Reformasi and
the Indonesian Television Journalists Association.
Two bodies covering industrial workers supported by UNDP are
the Workers Solidarity Forum in Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Palembang
and Medan and the Union of All Indonesian Workers in North and
South Sumatra and West Kalimantan.
Three research centers on the list include the South Sulawesi
Community Development Studies Center and the LP3ES which works
with grass root communities across the country.
Four foundations listed as recipients include the Foundation
for Legal Aid and Education which covers rural and small towns in
Lampung, South Sumatra.
The Indonesian Family Planning Association and the Association
of Muslim Students, both with mostly urban coverage, are also
recipients. (anr)
THE JAKARTA POST -- FRIDAY, APRIL 9, 1999 -- PAGE 2