Golkar charge taints mostly smooth campaign

Golkar charge taints mostly smooth campaign

JAKARTA (JP): The first phase of the two-week general election
campaign was generally considered secure and orderly, except for
a spoiler on Monday which could lead to the Golkar Party's
disqualification from the remainder of the campaign.

Deputy chairman of the Election Supervisory Committee Todung
Mulya Lubis told reporters on Tuesday the official poll watchdog
might bar Golkar from the rest of the campaign after finding
evidence the ruling party's security personnel carried sharp
weapons.

"Golkar officials insisted that none of their security
volunteers possessed weapons. But today's papers and TV
broadcasts clearly show that they were armed," he said.

"It means the (Golkar) officials lied to us. Television
footage and the pictures cannot lie."

However, the election supervisory body would need further
evidence to impose sanctions on Golkar, said the noted lawyer who
also coordinates the University Network for Free and Fair
Elections (Unfrel).

Todung attended an evaluation meeting with the General
Elections Commission (KPU), National Elections Committee (PPI)
and National Police at the KPU office in Central Jakarta on
Tuesday.

Among the topics discussed was the disturbance in which dozens
of people clashed with Golkar security personnel near the party's
Jakarta chapter in Cikini, Central Jakarta. Golkar security
volunteers, clad in black uniforms, were seen in TV footage
waving machetes and bamboo spears as they chased people who
earlier stoned party convoys.

The campaign rules endorsed by KPU say that serious
violations, including instigating disturbances and practicing
money politics, carry a maximum penalty of a ban from
campaigning.

Todung said Golkar could face charges of inciting clashes and
engaging in money politics.

He said the incident reportedly erupted after several Golkar
officials failed to fulfill a pledge to pay local residents.
Golkar executives have denied the reports.

Separately, the head of the Jakarta Election Supervisory
Committee, Benny Johan Simatupang, supported Todung's comments,
saying it was evident that Golkar violated the campaign code of
conduct by allowing its security personnel to carry weapons.

"It could be categorized as a crime and they (Golkar security
volunteers) can be punished under the Criminal Code. Golkar can
be disqualified, but we will first summon the party leaders,"
Benny said after a meeting between the parties' leaders and city
officials to evaluate the first phase of campaigning.

The provincial poll watchdog has reportedly reprimanded Golkar
for the alleged violation of security personnel carrying arms.

Benny also said that a member of the Jakarta election
supervisory body, Abi Ihwanudin, was a victim of extortion
committed by a group of people in black uniforms.

"He lost his wristwatch and Rp 350,000 (US$49) in cash," Benny
said. He did not identify the group.

Meanwhile, Jakarta Police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman
said on Tuesday police summoned head of Golkar's Jakarta chapter
Tadjus Sobirin on Monday night to seek his clarification over the
incident.

Noegroho said police found that unidentified people spread
rumors among scavengers that Golkar would provide T-shirts and Rp
40,000 in cash.

No arrests have been made following the incident, Noegroho
said.

He also called on parties contesting the June polls not to
equip their security forces with any weaponry. "We will seize the
weapons, although we won't make any arrests," Noegroho said.

In a media conference which followed Tuesday's evaluation
meeting, KPU chairman Rudini said the first phase of the campaign
was considered smooth and relatively secure.

"Despite various conflicts, we can say that the situation is
under control," added National Police chief Gen. Roesmanhadi, who
was also present at Tuesday's meeting.

He said violations were mostly committed by motorists during
street rallies. "Many of them did not ply the route provided for
them and eventually met with supporters of rival parties. As a
result, heavy traffic congestion was unavoidable and sometimes
they were involved in clashes."

Roesmanhadi also promised a thorough investigation into
certain parties which allegedly tampered with their lists of
legislative candidates.

The meeting also discussed poll-rigging, including findings
that some ballots in South Kalimantan and Sumenep, a town on
Madura Island in East Java, were already marked in favor of
particular parties.

"The practice is likely to have happened while local elections
committee members folded the ballot papers," PPI chairman Jacob
Tobing said.

PPI will send new ballot papers to the two areas and order the
local elections committee to withdraw the spoiled ballots.

Jacob said in the next two days all ballot papers and boxes
must be received by regional elections committees in areas
outside Java.

"The poll materials must reach subdistrict polling committees
there by June 4," he said.

During the meeting it was revealed that participants in
campaigning by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle topped
the list for traffic violations. (edt/ind/jun)