Habibie declares poll results valid

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie declared on Tuesday the results of the June 7 general election valid following the General Elections Commission's failure to endorse the poll results, saying a further delay would only disappoint the people.

The President, as the party responsible for the general election, is expected to issue a presidential decree on Wednesday formalizing his endorsement of the poll results, Minister of Information Lt. Gen. Muhammad Yunus said.

"With the decree the results of the elections then become legitimate," said Yunus after the President met with leaders of 21 political parties at Merdeka Palace.

Habibie justified his endorsement of the polls by saying 95 percent of the voters cast their ballots for political parties which had endorsed the elections results.

"Therefore, in line with the mandate of the Special Session of the People's Consultative Assembly in November, I declare that the poll results are valid," Habibie said. "The next (electoral) phases can now proceed as planned."

The declaration ushered in a new phase of the long-drawn elections process, which has often been marked by confusion and tension.

Habibie issued his declaration after the General Elections Commission (KPU) failed to endorse the poll results after hours of haggling. The heated KPU session also saw government representatives walking out in protest.

Commission members debated on Tuesday evening whether to endorse a draft decree proposed by representatives of minor political parties in the morning session. The decree called for poll results to be declared "provisional".

The representatives of the minor parties cited various poll violations they believed were not properly investigated.

"(If the poll results were endorsed now), there'd be no political certainty that the poll violations would be investigated," one representative said.

The Elections Supervisory Committee on Sunday overruled the objections the minor parties cited as their reasons for not endorsing the poll results.

Government representatives and representatives of major political parties which won seats in the House of Representatives opposed the decree, saying it would in effect annul the elections.

Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) representative Jacob Tobing said the decree ran counter to the common stance reached in a meeting of party representatives on Monday and Tuesday at Hotel Indonesia.

"At the meeting, we were of the opinion that we would endorse the elections results to help the nation emerge from its prolonged political and economic crises. I'm very sorry to say that I disagree with the draft decree.

"If the draft was endorsed, it would imply that the next House of Representatives and regency and provincial legislatures would be provisional in nature. Even the next government would be provisional," he said during the KPU session.

The KPU representative of the United Development Party (PPP), which garnered the third most votes in the general election, Djuhad Mahja, also rejected the draft decree.

Andi A. Mallarangeng and Afan Gaffar, two of the five government representatives on the elections commission, also urged the decree be dropped and that the commission endorse the poll results before the President stepped in.

This led to heated arguments and the walkout of the government representatives.

Indonesian People's Party (Pari) representative Agus Miftah was confident most minor parties would continue to refuse to endorse the elections results.

KPU chairman Rudini said despite conflicting views, all commission members accepted the results of the vote count and would proceed with its job of allocating seats in provincial legislative councils.

Commission deputy chairman Adnan Buyung Nasution said there would be no more need of KPU plenary sessions now that the President was scheduled to formally validate the poll results.

Adnan also blasted Rudini, accusing him of failing to take a firm stance and lead the plenary sessions.

Meanwhile, National Elections Committee chairman Jacob Tobing said the body would proceed with its task of allocating legislative seats.

"The induction of provincial legislators will begin tomorrow (Wednesday) and the House and regency legislators will soon follow," he said.

The KPU, meanwhile, must appoint 65 interest group representatives for the next People's Consultative Assembly.

Separately, around 600 supporters of Indonesian Buddhist Council chairwoman Sri Hartati Murdaya staged a protest in front of the KPU building, demanding the KPU name Murdaya the representative of the Buddhist community in the Assembly. (prb/rms/04)