Accreditation body for poll watchers formed

Accreditation body for poll watchers formed

JAKARTA (JP): The General Elections Commission (KPU) formed on
Thursday a committee to accredit foreign and domestic poll
observers, KPU chairman Rudini said.

"We welcome all poll watchers to observe the poll... but they
must abide by KPU rules and international standards to avoid
possible disputes," Rudini said after meeting with former United
States president Jimmy Carter.

Carter is leading a group of international poll observers
comprising 70 representatives from several countries. The group
will arrive in Indonesia a few days ahead of the polls, slated
for June 7.

The commission's decree governing the Accreditation Committee
of Foreign and Domestic Poll Observers in Indonesia stipulates
that all poll observers must register with the committee.

Rudini said registration was required so the committee could
verify the capacity of poll observers. The committee will check,
among others things, whether poll observers are nonpartisan and
qualified to monitor the polls.

The committee also will brief poll observers before monitoring
activities begin.

The accreditation committee comprises 37 members from several
institutions, including the KPU, the Ministries of Home Affairs,
Foreign Affairs, and Information, the Directorate General of
Immigration and the Armed Forces Intelligence Agency.

Nineteen committee members will monitor foreign poll observers
while 18 members will monitor domestic poll observers.

I Wayan Lasia, KPU spokesman, said the committee was scheduled
to work from April 5 to July 17.

The committee also will assist poll observers visiting regions
across the country. The committee will report the results of its
monitoring activities to the KPU chairman.

The committee's daily activities will be coordinated under
subcommission D of the KPU on interinstitution relations.

"We also plan to set up a media center supported by the United
Nations Development Program so foreign and domestic journalists
can gain access to poll information as quickly as possible,"
Rudini said.

KPU also is considering using Bank Rakyat Indonesia's online
network to process the results of balloting in the general
election because the bank has branches in regencies across the
country.

Rudini also slammed media reports that KPU members proposed
giving Rp 1 billion to each political party contesting the poll,
saying such a proposal was up to the government, based on the
availability of funds in the state budget.

"The rule is that each political party will receive a Rp 150
million government subsidy," he said referring to past election
practices.

KPU deputy chairman Adnan Buyung Nasution said he doubted the
government could afford to give each of the 48 poll contestants
Rp 1 billion because of the economic crisis.

Separately, chairman of United Development Party (PPP) Hamzah
Haz said after closing PPP's leadership meeting on Thursday that
the House of Representatives also must be involved in determining
the amount each poll contestant will receive because it involves
the state budget.

Chairman of the National Mandate Party Amien Rais said on
Friday that parties should raise their own money rather than "bow
to the status quo" to receive money. He added that Rp 1 billion
was not enough to support the some 300 party branches each poll
contestant must have.

"Better look for contributions from party members... or other
creative, legal businesses to raise funds," he said.

Parties are not allowed to receive funds from overseas,
contributions of more than Rp 15 million per year from any one
individual or more than Rp 150 million a year from any one
company or institution. (edt)