Committee set up to hold polls in three provinces
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)