Committee set up to hold polls in three provinces

JAKARTA (JP): The General Elections Commission (KPU) established on Monday a committee chaired by Indonesian People's Party (Pari) chairman Agus Miftah to organize local elections in three new provinces -- North Maluku, Central Irian Jaya and East Irian Jaya.

KPU chairman Rudini said the local elections would be held to elect representatives in the three provinces to sit at their respective provincial and regency legislatures.

"The local elections will be held to form three provincial legislative councils and 32 regency legislatures, he said.

Rudini said elections would also be held in two regencies in Aceh, namely Pidie and North Aceh.

The security situation in the two regencies was not conducive for elections to be held when the rest of the country went to the polls for the June 7 general election.

The government decided last month to divide Maluku into two provinces and Irian Jaya into three provinces in an effort to accelerate development programs and help improve the social welfare of people in the regions.

Rudini said the date of the local elections had yet to be set but that it would be held next year.

"It is still uncertain whether the local elections will be held simultaneously in the provinces and regencies," he said.

KPU spokesman Djoeharmansyah said on Monday that the local elections might be held next March.

Pari chairman Agus Miftah was elected to chair the election committee, while his deputies are Djuhad Mahja of the United Development Party (PPP) and Affan Gaffar, representing the government.

Agus said that for now the three provinces would not be represented in the House of Representatives because all 500 seats in the House were fully occupied.

However, he said the committee would also hold consultations with the government on the representation for these new provinces in the House, because the 1999 General Election Law stipulated that each regency had the right to a representative on the legislative body. (rms)