Activist seeks strict audit to deter electoral violations

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Strict audit into financial sheets of political parties should be conducted prior to and after the 2004 elections to prevent them from taking more donations than allowed under prevailing laws, an activist said.

Coordinator of the Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) Teten Masduki said here on Friday a strict financial audit would ensure that all political parties spend only 'legal funds' during their campaigns.

"The money spent by each party for campaign activities should be taken from the audited funds. This will prevent the use of illegal funds by political parties," Teten said after a discussion here on Friday.

The audit, Teten said, was also needed to determine the source of party funds.

Law No. 3/1999 on elections allows a political party to receive up to Rp 15 million in individual donations a year and Rp 150 million in corporate donations, a violation of which could result in the party's disqualification or dissolution.

But many believe that virtually all political parties participating in the 1999 general elections violated the rule and went unpunished.

According to Teten, four political parties hired helicopters costing US$1,500 per hour each. "But the audit report provided by those parties did not mention the use of helicopters," Teten added.

The home affairs ministry submitted to the House of Representatives (DPR) a new bill on elections last week which raises individual donations to Rp 50 million a year, and corporate donations to Rp 500 million. The House will start deliberating the bill soon.

Teten, who is also a member of the coalition for political laws, said post election audit would determine whether or not a party violated the ruling.

Legislator Sutradara Gintings of the Justice and Unity Party (PKP) meanwhile warned the Election Committee that violation by political parties could take place in at least three places.

The three violations are the abuse of power, irregularities in political funds and seeking support from foreign countries, he said.

Gintings who spoke at the discussion regretted that the draft revision did not provide sufficient provisions to cope with potential violations.

Based on the Law No. 3/1999, the Supreme Court is the institution assigned to proceed with the legal measures against those who commit violations.

But, it would be ineffective due to the numerous legal affairs the Supreme Court has to deal with.

The draft revision gives a mandate to an ad hoc court to deal with violations of election law.

"We have to assess this seriously," Ginting said.