Former KONI candidate calls for clean poll

Former KONI candidate calls for clean poll

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Joko Pramono, a onetime candidate for the National Sports Council
(KONI)'s chairmanship, has called for a clean and transparent
election process this time around.

"I'd like to warn the election committee to be sportsmanlike.
No fabrications," Joko, who heads the National Water Ski
Association (POSI), said at the Century Hotel here on Monday.

"This is important because it has to do with the future of
national sports. Leave the issue to the participants of the
congress," he said.

The three-day KONI congress, which begins here on Tuesday,
will feature representatives from 50 KONI-affiliated sports
organizations and 29 KONI provincial chapters.

Joko, a retired Navy officer, was a strong candidate to
replace incumbent KONI chairman Wismoyo Arismunandar in 1997,
only to bow out of the race citing pressure. Wismoyo was
eventually elected for a second term.

With Wismoyo's time in the chair coming to an end, seven
candidates have emerged to succeed him.

The candidates are Arie Sudewo, Agum Gumelar, Luhut Panjaitan
and Sutiyoso, who, like Wismoyo, are all retired Army generals.
There is also legislator Oesman Sapta Odang, Iskandar Zulkarnain
and Andhy Gani Nena Wea.

"All seven must be give an equal opportunity to present their
vision at the congress, regardless of whether or not they have
already obtained an initial 10 backers as required by the
committee," Joko said, who was accompanied by Andhy Gani Nena
Wea.

The backers can be sports organizations or KONI's provincial
chapters.

Andhy, who is the chairman of the Indonesian Sports Community,
said the number of backers should not have a bearing on the
election.

"They may change allegiances during the congress, so it is the
session that counts," he said.

Andhy said he had the support of a few backers but he would
not name the organizations or the chapters.