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)