Govt more vocal in its opposition to poll watchdogs

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)