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)