Candidates list released, doubts still lurk

Candidates list released, doubts still lurk

JAKARTA (JP): The National Elections Committee finally
announced the temporary lists of provincial legislative
candidates on Sunday, but party officials raised doubts over the
validity, citing possible technical errors.

The fixed list will be issued on May 19, pending changes if
any members of the public forward strong reasons for complaints
against a candidate.

In a press release, the committee stated the list comprised of
some 13,500 provincial legislative candidates from 48 parties
contesting the June 7 poll.

The temporary provincial legislative list was originally
scheduled for release on May 12, to be followed by three days of
distribution.

Elections officials earlier raised complaints and revealed
that foul play, including tampering with PPI's computer files was
behind the delay. The list was distributed to the media on
diskettes. A number of dailies planned to publish the list.

Alex Litaay, secretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) was upset when he found out
the list from the committee revealed the party only had
candidates from 15 provinces. He said the party registered
candidates from 27 provinces on May 11.

"This is impossible. Where are the rest of the files? I think
there must be download or typing errors here. We have proof of
the original lists (submitted to the committee)," he said.

Committee chairman Jacob Tobing told The Jakarta Post that all
the lists have been completed. "I personally checked every file
until dawn. I will recheck them," Jacob, also a committee member
from PDI Perjuangan, said.

According to the list, the Justice and Unity Party (PKP) has
the most candidates with 935 names, followed by the Republic
Party with 924 nominees and ruling party Golkar with 915 names.

The National Mandate Party (PAN) has submitted 541 names from
27 provinces while the National Awakening Party (PKB) has 616
nominees, also from 27 provinces.

"The lowest is Workers Solidarity Party (PSP) with 54
legislative nominees in 16 provinces," Jacob added.

Muhaimin Iskandar, PKB's secretary-general and also a
committee member, said he had to stay up until dawn on Saturday
to recheck all the lists.

"Some names from the list submitted by PKB were missing and
mistakenly placed in a list of other parties. This is quite
confusing," Muhaimin said. He said when he last checked the lists
at dawn at the PT Metro Pos publishing firm in East Jakarta, the
mistakes were fixed. He added he still harbored doubts over the
list.

Committee secretary Rasyidi told a media briefing that "some
technical difficulties occurred" which contributed to the delay
of the list. He cited that half the list of the National Mandate
Party (PAN) was missing but the party list was now complete.

With Sunday's announcement, the public has the opportunity to
raise objections and pass judgments until Wednesday, when the
committee is scheduled to issue the final list and when the
campaign period starts. Rasyidi, however, could not specify the
time limit for the public to pass judgment on the candidates.

People can state objections in written forms to the PPI office
at Wisma Saidah on Jl. M.T. Haryono Kav. 21, Central Jakarta or
telephone number (021) 7981972; or to the General Elections
Commission (KPU) press center on Jl. Imam Bonjol No. 29, Central
Jakarta, ph. (021) 391-1100 or 391-1200, he said.

"The final lists will be announced, printed and distributed
across the country up to June 1," Rasyidi, also a commission
member of the All-Indonesian Workers Solidarity Party (PSPSI),
said.

According to the list, Amien Rais of PAN will run in Jakarta,
as will Nur Muhammad Iskandar of PKB.

Zoemrotin K. Susilo, executive of the Indonesian Consumer
Foundation, will run on behalf of PAN from Cilacap, Central Java.

The chairman of the United Development Party (PPP), Hamzah
Haz, will also be nominated in Jakarta. Megawati Soekarnoputri of
PDI Perjuangan has been named the party's candidate in Bandung,
West Java.

PDI Perjuangan figures who will now run in Jakarta include Roy
B.B. Janis, Kwik Kian Gie, Sabam Sirait and Aberson Sihaloho.

Political activist Pius Lustrilanang will run in Bogor and
businessman Arifin Panigoro in Tangerang. (edt)