Government's plan to dissolve KPU groundless: Rudini

JAKARTA (JP): General Election Commission (KPU) Chairman Rudini accused the government and the House of Representatives of purposely sabotaging efforts to investigate electoral violations in last year's poll by dissolving the commission.

"KPU is preparing a special report on the violations committed by certain political parties in the election which will later be followed up by the Supreme Court," Rudini said here on Thursday.

He said such an effort was necessary to show that the June 7 general election was different from previous elections during the New Order era.

House Speaker Akbar Tandjung said earlier this week that the House and the government had agreed to dissolve the election commission and replace it with a new one whose members will be "independent and professional."

He said the law on general elections would be revised and the new commission will take over the task of holding local elections in newly established provinces.

Rudini maintained that the current election commission should be valid until 2003 in accordance with the general election law.

"So the government's plan to dissolve KPU as it was reported recently was really due to pressure by certain groups for certain purposes because it is not based on the existing law," he said.

He underlined that the success of October's General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly and the election of a legitimate government was in large part due to the work of the commission.

Rudini, who is a former Army chief, said the dissolution of the commission could jeopardize planned local elections which would in turn stir conflict in newly established provinces.

"The establishment of a new election commission is an unwise policy vested with political interests," he claimed.

He added that despite the plan, KPU will go ahead with its present agenda to schedule local elections for June 10.

Separately House Speaker Akbar Tandjung denied on Thursday any suggestions of a political conspiracy.

"There is no such conspiracy among big parties to dissolve KPU," Akbar said.

He said the idea of dissolving KPU came from the government when Minister of Home Affairs Surjadi Soedirdja and state Minister of Regional Autonomy Ryaas Rasyid were discussing the State Guidelines.

He said the government agreed upon the need to set up a new commission which was more professional and independent as stated by guidelines.

"We agreed with the government's statement. And we explained it to party faction leaders in the House," said Akbar who is chairman of the Golkar Party which received the second highest number of votes in last year's election.

He said the dissolution of the commission received little opposition in the House as all faction leaders seemed to endorse the matter. (jun/rms)