Councillors book plush hotel for election
Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post, Cirebon, West Java
On the eve of the regental election on Wednesday Cirebon regency councillors stayed at star-rated hotels to avoid being bribed to vote for a particular candidate.
The decision has drawn criticism from a number of organizations, who believe it was an extravagance that should have been avoided.
"We don't understand why they have to spend the night at expensive star-rated hotels. It's better if they use the money to help the Cirebon people who are struggling economically," Kholik Mawardi, an activist from the Cirebon Islamic University, said on Tuesday.
The hotels, a three-star hotel and a four-star hotel, are located on Jl. Kartini and Jl. Tuparev in Cirebon regency respectively.
The hotels are being used to "quarantine" members of the National Awakening Party (PKB), Golkar Party, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), National Mandate Party (PAN), United Development Party (PPP) and Crescent Star Party (PBB). However, members of the Indonesian Military/National Police (TNI/Polri) faction have opted to stay in their own houses.
The councillors also booked a room at another four-star hotel to entertain chairman of PDI Perjuangan's central board Gunawan Wirosaroyo and deputy secretary-general Mangara Siahaan.
PDI Perjuangan councillor Machmud Jawa insisted that the policy was aimed at preventing money politics during the election.
"It may seem extravagant... But please look beyond that. The spirit of the decision is that we are determined to make this election free of corruption," said Machmud.
The councillors will elect a new regent to replace Sutisna, whose term has ended. Two pairs of candidates are vying for the post, Dedi Supardi and Nurasyik and Glenarto and Nurudin Siradj.
Dedi and Nurasyik are nominated by the coalition of PDI Perjuangan, PPP, PAN and PBB. Glenarto and Nurudin are nominated by Golkar and PKB. The TNI/Polri do not have their own candidates.
Cirebon council chairman Maskub Buntoro said that the councillors were also barred from taking their cellular phones to the hotels.
"We are not taking any chances. All communication devices are barred from the hotels to prevent money politics," he said.
Maskub did not specify where the money to pay for the hotel rooms was coming from.
"I can assure you that we are not using state funds. The money came from the parties. This reflects a high awareness among the parties of the need to make this election free of money politics," said Maskub.