Govt more vocal in its opposition to poll watchdogs

JAKARTA (JP): The government has become more outspoken in its opposition to the recently-formed independent poll watchdogs, calling them a possible cause of social unrest.

Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Soesilo Soedarman said yesterday that only the official Election Supervision Committee has any authority to supervise the poll next year. The various independent poll watchdogs would create unrest, should they try to take part in monitoring activities, he said.

"The government doesn't need the independent election monitoring bodies. The supervision of the general election is already covered by the official Election Supervision Committee," he said.

"Mind you, I only said the government does not need any poll watchdogs. I am not saying that they should be banned," Soesilo said after a ceremony during which he installed Col. Sapardi as deputy assistant in charge of national political affairs and security at his office.

"These independent bodies could create unrest at a time when the people need to feel most secure," he said. "What we need to do is to improve the quality of the official election committee, rather than develop these bodies."

He also expressed concern that the independent poll watchdogs "would fight among themselves because there are no rules of the game for them."

He went on to describe his view on some people's efforts to link the establishment of the poll bodies with democratization.

Democracy

He said that "it's impossible to implement democracy in a liberal manner, because Indonesians are culturally and politically unready for it."

A number of independent poll watchdogs have recently been established by political and rights activists throughout the country. The first was established in January by activists in Bandung, West Java, and followed last month by the Independent Election Monitoring Committee, whose aim is to monitor polling across the country.

The establishment of the independent committee spawned other bodies, including one established by several activists with affiliation to the ruling Golkar organization.

"We will take stern action against those who attempt to disrupt the general election," Soesilo warned.

He also called on the press not to magnify reports about the independent poll bodies.

In the meantime, scholars are maintaining their support for the Independent Election Monitoring Committee. Noted sociologist Arief Budiman, a former lecturer at Satya Wacana Christian University in Salatiga, Central Java said the body is needed to help curb the many violations that take place during general elections.

"The government has in the past covered up violations which occurred and the public could not do anything," he charged.

Poet Emha Ainun Nadjib said the independent poll body is needed to help the public become more aware of their political rights. (01/har/imn)