Fund for political seminar rejected

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Some political parties at the City Council have suggested the elimination of the Rp 1.5 billion (US$150,000) fund allocated in the 2002 City Budget for a political ethic seminar program.

"This program is just like that in the New Order regime. If we are not allowed to manage the fund alone, it's better not to use the fund," councillor Posman Siahaan of the Unity and Justice Party (PKP) said on Friday.

Speaking after a meeting with head of the City Unity Nation Body, Effendy Anas, Siahaan disapproved the program, saying it would influence the parties' policy.

He claimed his idea has been supported by the Unity and Diversity Party (PBI).

The PBI and PKP only have one seat each in the council. The other eight parties' stances in the council remain unclear.

During former president Soeharto's regime, the seminar program, featuring speakers from the government, must be attended by councillors.

The program was conducted by the Body (formerly known as the City Social Political Body) and was believed to intervene the political parties.

But Effendy denied that the program aimed at interfering the parties' policy. He said that the fund was allocated in the budget.

"It's (interfering) in the past. Now, we are cooperating with the political parties to arrange the program," he said.

Apart from the Rp 1.5 billion fund, all 48 political parties, contested in the 1999 general elections, are entitled to Rp 10.26 billion from the city budget.

Election winner the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) with 30 seats at the council will receive Rp 1.5 billion. Nine other parties, which have as many as 13 seats, will get between Rp 684 million and Rp 52 million.

The remaining 38 parties, without any seats at the council, will only get Rp 16 million each.