Debate over KIPP rages on
JAKARTA (JP): While the government has come out firmly against the need for independent poll watchdogs, the debate over the Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP) continues to rage on, with academics yesterday arguing its pros and cons.
The Secretary General of the Indonesian Moslem Intellectuals Association (ICMI), Adi Sasono, said yesterday that there is no real reason to fear the poll watchdog.
"The government and security officials should not be wary of KIPP's presence," he said, describing it as a natural byproduct of the people's increased dynamism and political awareness.
"I know it's chairman, Goenawan Mohamad, very well. He is a sincere person," Adi said, alluding to the former chief editor of the now-defunct Tempo magazine.
Nevertheless, he said that one should not be so naive as to perceive the poll watchdog as being merely a moral movement. "It is also a political movement," he claimed.
While not specifically referring to the Independent Election Monitoring Committee, the government on Thursday said that independent poll watchdogs are not needed. Government officials refused to say whether this was meant as a call for such groups to disband.
Formed early last month, the committee is comprised of several leading rights activists and government critics. Its establishment has spawned other independent watchdogs, a new phenomenon in Indonesia's electoral history.
Reacting to the government's statement, the committee's secretary general, Mulyana W. Kusumah, said that the formation of the poll watchdog should be perceived as a channel for political openness, which could accommodate the people's aspirations.
In Semarang, Central Java, political scientist Kahar Badjuri said there was really no reason for the government to be overly concerned about the committee.
He contended that the presence of the poll watchdog could actually help boost international confidence regarding the validity and fairness of the general elections.
The University of Diponegoro academic told The Jakarta Post yesterday that there is no reason to harbor suspicions towards any activity which boosts public participation in the coming elections.
"Yes, there is already the Panwaslak, but anyone can falter in their duty, so KIPP should just be allowed to continue. Besides, they aren't breaking any laws by their presence," he said.
Panwaslak is the government-sanctioned Election Supervision Committee, which is made up of officials, legislators and other public representatives.
In Yogyakarta, Afan Gafar, political observer of the Gadjah Mada state university, lauded the government's statement and brushed off the committee as being nothing more than a movement comprised of government agitators who have an axe to grind.
"Goenawan, Buyung and Mulyana are all people who have problems with the government. KIPP is nothing more than an opposition group against the government," he said, referring to the poll watchdog's founders.
Though less harsh, National Human Rights Commission member Muladi supported Afan's statement that the existence of the poll body was probably not necessary.
He told the Post that although the watchdog is not banned, the law only recognizes the official poll committee, and thus the monitoring committee's activities fall outside the recognized system of monitoring.
Meanwhile, in Ujung Pandang, South Sulawesi, Professor Sadly from Hasanuddin University also held a similar view.
Sadly said that, apart from the legal soundness of the official supervision committee, the independent monitoring committee would have difficulty in carrying out its activities due to a shortage of manpower.
He further questioned whether the presence of the poll watchdog would automatically translate into an improvement in the transparency of the elections.
He said groups like the monitoring committee were commonly found abroad. However, this did not necessarily mean that such a model could be applied here. (imn/har/20/mds)