Elections commission on learning curve

JAKARTA (JP): The 20-day-old, 53-member General Elections Commission (KPU) is learning-by-doing as it attempts to foster democracy through the implementation of a free and fair general election this year.

Great expectations have been placed on the commission, assigned to pave the way for free and fair polls. Led by former minister of home affairs Gen. (ret) Rudini, its decisions have either been hailed or criticized by the public and government officials.

Its most controversial decision was last week's ruling barring government officials, including ministers, from campaigning for parties contesting the polls.

The commission, whose members comprise five government representatives and representatives of the 48 political parties contesting the June 7 general election, was officially established on March 10 to replace the disbanded general elections institution.

The commission is the first of its kind in the country. Some critics contend the government's draft bill on elections was more democratic regarding the membership of the commission. In the draft bill, civilian representatives not connected to political parties were to be included on the commission. However, the House of Representatives decided against this.

House members said it would be difficult to reach an agreement on who was representative of Indonesia's millions of citizens.

Controversy first hit the KPU when two of its members refused to be sworn in by President B.J. Habibie, who is legally in charge of the general election, at Bina Graha presidential office on March 11.

The two, Sri Bintang Pamungkas, the representative of the Indonesian Unidemocracy Party (PUDI), and Bambang Sulistomo, the representative of the Indonesian Democrat Alliance Party, said Habibie did not have the authority to swear them in.

"Our own parties ordered us to join the elections commission and we have no obligation to show our loyalty to the President," said Bintang.

The following day, Bambang, under pressures from his party, was installed by Rudini, while Bintang has maintained his stance.

Adnan Buyung Nasution, a government representative on the commission, said Bintang, who is known as a reform figure and democrat, should accept being sworn in to show his strong commitment to develop and uphold democracy in the country.

"I fear the public will question all decisions made by the commission because of Bintang's refusal to be sworn in."

Plenary

More trouble in the commission arose over a clause in the law on general elections regarding votes in the commission. The law stipulates the commission's five government representatives have a balanced vote with the party representatives.

In the commission's first meeting, the seemingly simple decision of electing a chairperson of the plenary session was deliberated for three hours, with the main debate being whether the government representatives' balanced vote applied to the election of a chairperson.

A further debate was held among the 48 party representatives to decide who among them was representative to chair the plenary session.

A commission member who asked for anonymity blamed party representatives' uncompromising attitudes for the difficulty in reaching a decision on who would chair the plenary session.

"Several party representatives feel they have become great politicians because of their presence on the commission, while several others are greenhorns in politics," the source said.

Jacob Tobing, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's (PDI Perjuangan) representative on the commission, called on all members to start learning about democracy following 32-years of authoritarian rule under former president Soeharto.

"Most members are unfamiliar with democracy after the nation was ruled by a repressive regime for more than 30 years. Now we have to start learning about democracy."

The commission again came into the spotlight when it was revealed several members proposed a monthly salary for commission members of Rp 10 million.

Afan Gaffar, another government representative on the commission, said the proposed Rp 10 million monthly salary was rejected in the plenary session.

He said commission members' monthly salaries had not yet been decided.

Criticisms aimed at the "greed" of the commission's party representatives have accused them of "eating from two plates simultaneously".

A debate on the commission's credibility also was raised when the commission ruled its members could campaign and nominate themselves as legislative candidates. This raised accusations of double standards after the commission banned ministers from campaigning.

Ramlan Surbakti, a political lecturer at Airlangga University in Surabaya, said KPU members should concentrate on organizing a free and fair general election.

"KPU members should realize they will be employed and paid for five years and they will be given the use of cars. They should not demand more than that."

Ramlan also said the elections commission had lost its legitimacy following its controversial ruling allowing its members to campaign and nominate themselves as legislative candidates, while banning government officials from campaigning.

Commission chairman Rudini defended the commission's rulings, saying the rule allowing its members to campaign was a "political decision", while the KPU had the authority to bar government officials, including ministers, from campaigning. (rms)