Government demands KPU neutrality during campaign

Government demands KPU neutrality during campaign

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Justice/State Secretary Muladi
insisted on Wednesday that members of the General Elections
Commission (KPU) be barred from campaigning to ensure their
neutrality.

Muladi's demand apparently came in response to the
commission's ban on Cabinet ministers and other high-ranking
state officials from electioneering in the campaign period, which
officially starts next Wednesday.

Akbar Tandjung, Golkar chairman and former minister/state
secretary, and Minister of Investment Hamzah Haz, who chairs the
United Development Party, voluntarily resigned last week to
enable them to campaign.

"According to the law, KPU is an independent institution. So
it is better for its members not to campaign," Muladi said after
a Cabinet meeting at Bina Graha presidential office.

KPU groups representatives of all 48 parties contesting the
June 7 elections and five government representatives.

"We accept the (KPU) rule, although we have never passed a law
which imposes such a ban," Muladi, a professor of law, said.

Muladi said the government would issue an electoral rule next
Wednesday, but it would not include campaign bans on Cabinet
ministers or KPU members.

"It's all up to the KPU whether to follow in the footsteps of
our two colleagues," he said, referring to the resignation of
Akbar and Hamzah. The regulation would deal with technical
matters of the elections, Muladi said.

An internal debate on whether KPU should impose a campaign ban
on its members heated up on Wednesday, with government
representatives in the commission advocating a ban.

While many supported the commission's ban on officials joining
campaigns, they criticized its credibility due to it allowing its
own members to campaign and to run for legislative seats.

Most KPU members who chair parties strongly oppose the idea.
"KPU has endorsed a rule allowing us to campaign and run for
legislative seats. Why should we change it now?," Bambang
Sulistomo, KPU member and chairman of the Indonesian Democrats
Alliance Party (PADI), said.

"KPU members deserve exemption because they bear their
respective party's interests," Bambang added.

One government representative, Afan Gaffar, said, "KPU members
are not supermen who can play all roles."

"Remember that KPU members are actually state employees.
Therefore they have to be independent."

Djuhad Mahja, a United Development Party (PPP) representative,
said KPU members could campaign if the electoral campaign
schedule allowed them to do so.

On Wednesday, the commission also announced a plan to
establish an online computer network for ballot counting,
involving 299 computers at BRI and BNI state bank branches.

The ballot counting will apply what is called a formal system
to be supervised by the United Nations Development Program, an
informal system to be operated by the International Foundation
for Elections System (IFES) and a manual system conducted by
polling committee workers at polling places.

All methods will be applied to enable cross-checking.

The United Nations Development Program has provided US$1.7
million to assist in ballot counting.

A KPU decree states balloting begins at 8 a.m. and must end at
2 p.m. on election day, slated for June 7.

Separately, South Sulawesi Police chief Brig.Gen. Mudji
Santoso said 47 political parties signed on Tuesday an agreement
to run free, fair and peaceful elections.

"The parties also agreed to clear the city of all party
symbols a week before the campaign," Mudji added.

Also on Thursday, the Deliberation, Work and Cooperation
(MKGR) Party on Thursday nominated its advisory board chairman,
Rudini, as its presidential candidate and Minister of Defense and
Security/Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Wiranto as vice
presidential candidate. (edt/prb/rms/30)