Govt warns election watchdog

Govt warns election watchdog

JAKARTA (JP): The National Election Supervision Committee yesterday warned the activists who formed an independent watchdog to monitor the 1997 election to stay out of its way.

Attorney General Singgih, who heads the committee, said the presence of a committee outside the formal structure is not a problem as long as it does not violate the law and does not interfere with the election itself.

"If it does, we will smash it," he said after heading a meeting of the election committee at his office.

"They're welcome to give input to us. But they have to observe the laws and regulations," he said.

A group of about 50 senior statesmen, lawyers, journalists, intellectuals and activists announced the formation of the Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP) in Jakarta on Friday.

Headed by Goenawan Mohamad, the former chief editor of the banned Tempo magazine, KIPP plans to deploy volunteers to monitor next year's general election and report every violation they find.

While KIPP's presence has been warmly welcomed by both the minority parties -- the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) -- it was greeted with indifference and skepticism by Golkar, which has won the past five general elections with a huge majority each time.

PPP and PDI politicians have said that their complaints of vote rigging in previous elections went unheeded. The two parties have been demanding a better mechanism to ensure a more honest and fair election in 1997. One of their requests is the establishment of an independent poll watchdog.

When the idea of KIPP was still at a planning stage, the military called it unconstitutional. On Sunday, the Armed Forces (ABRI) took a more conciliatory attitude.

ABRI Chief of Sociopolitical Affairs Lt. Gen. Syarwan Hamid said that the formation of KIPP was a positive step because it reflects greater public concern to ensure a smoother election.

Syarwan however said KIPP should not advertise itself as a rival organization to the officially-appointed election monitoring committee.

Singgih said yesterday that KIPP, being outside the official structure, is subject to the regulations for members of the public in monitoring the election.

Reports filed by KIPP should be channeled to the official committee through PO Box 6000, he said .

On election day, KIPP members will not be allowed to go beyond certain areas in the polling booths designated only for officials, he added.

Suryana Soebrata, the secretary of the National Election Committee, also underlined various restrictions imposed on outsiders, including KIPP, intending to monitor the election.

Suryana, who is also Secretary General of the Ministry of Home Affairs, said ballot counting would be off limits to non- designated officials. Allowing KIPP members or other people to take part in the ballot counting could create chaos, he said.

"The National Election Supervision Committee is the only legitimate body allowed to monitor the election. Others intending to take part in the monitoring are welcomed, but they will not be involved in the administration of the election, such as in counting the votes," Suryatna said.

Whatever reports and recommendations are filed by KIPP, they are not binding on the National Election Committee, he added. (imn/emb)

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