Habibie declares poll results valid

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)