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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