Golkar not afraid of independent poll watchdog
Golkar not afraid of independent poll watchdog
JAKARTA (JP): Golkar, the ruling political organization and winner of the last five general elections, yesterday defended its stance that the establishment of an independent poll watchdog is unconstitutional.
Golkar's deputy chairman, Ismael Hassan, also rejected suggestions that the Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP) could have an adverse affect on the ruling group's performance in the 1997 general election.
"No, Golkar is not afraid," Ismael was quoted by the Antara news agency as saying yesterday.
In a discussion on preparations for the general election at Golkar's headquarters in Slipi, West Jakarta, he said Golkar only recognizes the National Election Institute's electoral committee.
The idea for an independent committee originated with the Moslem-based United Development Party (PPP), a minority party which alleges that cheating in previous elections has been overlooked.
Several PPP chapters in the provinces last year threatened to boycott next year's election unless the government, which backs Golkar, guarantees fairness.
The initiative has since been taken up by private organizations, which set up in January a "private" election monitoring committee in Bandung, West Java. It was then followed by similar regional committees in various cities.
The independent committee was then established on March 15 by more than 50 journalists, lawyers, statesmen and activists. It is chaired by senior journalist and former chief editor of the banned Tempo weekly magazine Goenawan Mohamad.
Yesterday, Ismael also denied reports that the independent committee represents the majority of Indonesians.
"Golkar, with its 35 million members and 1.5 million cadres, is the real representative of the majority," he said. "Cadres" are the organization's leading members across the country.
Opposition
"Golkar's opposition to the committee should be regarded as the people's opposition," he added.
Golkar chairman Harmoko said earlier that the establishment of the committee is against the 1945 Constitution and a 1985 general election law.
Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung also has rejected the body and called it unconstitutional, saying that the 1945 Constitution makes no mention of independent election monitoring.
Yesterday, Ismael called on voters to use their rights in the general election.
"I hope that nobody will turn out to be Golput members. Golput members are not good citizens," he said.
Golput, which stands for Golongan Putih (literally, "white group"), is a term popularly used to refer to those who opt not to vote for any of the three political parties at election time. The name was coined to contrast it with Golkar (Golongan Karya), whose name means functional group.
People can disrupt the general elections by choosing to be Golput, Ismael said.
He also said that Indonesia had the world's highest voter turnout rate in the 1992 general elections.
"A total of 92 percent of the population voted, compared with an average of 60 percent in other countries," he said.
Indonesia's population currently stands at 195 million. In 1992, Golkar won 68 percent of the vote. (imn)