Govt cannot stop establishment of poll watchdogs

Govt cannot stop establishment of poll watchdogs

JAKARTA (JP): The government yesterday said it does not have the authority to prevent private organizations from establishing their own independent election watchdogs, although it believes they are totally uncalled for.

H.S.A. Jusacc, the spokesman of the Ministry of Home Affairs, said the constitution guarantees that people are free to form their own election monitoring committees.

"We cannot stop those who want to form these committees, but I think if the official Election Inspection Committee, which has already been set up, is already doing an effective and efficient job, there is no need for any other institutions," Jusacc was quoted by Antara as saying.

As the 1997 general election draws nearer, several private groups have formed their own committees with the proclaimed objective of ensuring fair elections.

Politicians from the two minority parties, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) welcomed the initiative. The two parties complained of rampant cheating during the last five elections, none of which was punished. Golkar, the ruling political group which has won all five elections with huge majorities, opposes the idea.

Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. heads the National Election Committee, which also includes a cross-party board that will monitor the way the election is conducted.

Jusacc said those who wish to form their own election watchdogs may very well have good intentions.

But he said there are rules to follow. "They know that we have a system and mechanisms which have been agreed upon."

Question

He questioned the need for such independent commissions.

"We already have the Election Inspection Committee. If there is any information on electoral fraud, it can be forwarded to this committee," he maintained.

The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation's (YLBHI) yesterday supported the idea of an independent election committee.

"The idea of such an institution is progressive," the foundation's director of information, Hendardi, said.

Hendardi reiterated widely-felt concern that certain incongruities popped up in the past five elections since 1975.

"There are those who believe that a fraudulent election is part of this five-year cycle," he said..

He said independent bodies have watched over various elections in other countries, such as in the Philippines in 1986 which uncovered rampant fraud by the regime of the late Ferdinand Marcos.

"On the other hand an independent committee has never played a role in the election of members of the House of Representatives in Indonesia. It's as if there is no room for independent bodies to play a role in monitoring elections," he said.

He said the Nicaraguan election in 1990 and the Palestinian election last month were monitored by foreign observers.

"Elections in this country have never been attended by foreign observers. What the government always seems to want to do is stick to the channels which it has created," he remarked.

Hendardi lamented the cool reception given the idea by the authorities, especially that of Armed Forces spokesman Brig. Gen. Suwarno Adiwijoyo, whom he said completely brushed aside the possibility of an independent committee.

The election inspection committee should be seen as a move to strengthen the quality of elections within the context of the existing system, he argued. (mds)