Habibie issues poll decree, KPU flayed

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie garnered praise on Wednesday for issuing a decree validating the June 7 poll results, but the General Elections Commission (KPU) suffered a public roasting over the constant bickering among its members and the failure to make the endorsement on schedule.

The commission took the criticism in stride, with chairman Rudini immediately promising to proceed with preparations for its next task of the installment of members of the House of Representatives and the provincial and regency legislatures.

Taking over the authority from the KPU, Habibie issued a presidential decree stipulating the poll results were final and valid. The decree also requests that the election commission proceed with its remaining duties as scheduled.

State Secretary/Minister of Justice Muladi described the 10 days that followed the 53-strong commission's failure to endorse the poll results on July 23 as a state of emergency which merited the President's action.

"If the President as the party responsible for the elections did not take action to validate the poll results, the national reform agenda would be jeopardized and people would resort to unrest," Muladi said after announcing the decree.

The five government representatives in the commission, supported by major parties, have been embroiled in rows with minor parties since July 23.

A majority of the 48 political parties represented in the commission declined to sign the national tally report because they believed the elections were flawed. They demanded the government first investigate all poll violations and irregularities.

Daily plenary sessions were marked by commission members trading barbs and accusations. The smaller parties -- which insisted the poll results should be declared "provisional" in nature -- were accused of plotting to sow political chaos.

In turn, the small parties demanded the government expel its five representatives from the commission. Walkouts and arguments became the order of the daily sessions.

Six of the 27 recalcitrant parties subsequently relented and endorsed the vote count. They were the New Indonesia Party (PIB), MKGR Party, Indonesian National Party led by Supeni (PNI Supeni), Peace Loving Party (PCD), Justice Party (PK) and Indonesian Nation's National Party (PNBI).

Meanwhile, political experts and poll watchdogs made clear their disdain for the KPU.

Hailing Habibie for the decree, the Independent Election Monitoring Committee scolded the commission for its failure.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the organization said the election commission should return its mandate to the President.

Chairman of the National Mandate Party Amien Rais also supported Habibie's decision.

"Up to now, the KPU's performance is very disappointing," he said in Surakarta, Central Java.

Riswandha Imawan, a political expert from Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta, also expressed deep concern over the commission's poor performance, saying it descended into an arena of power struggles.

"The election commission's bad performance also reflects the political elite's immaturity (as shown by) the minority parties' rejection of their defeat," he said in Surakarta.

Secrecy

It was revealed on Wednesday that the election commission endorsed the poll results on Tuesday night after earlier sessions ended deadlocked. Rudini said the endorsement occurred because "we had to make a decision after we heard the President was about to sign the decree".

Rudini reportedly signed the poll results in secret and in the absence of the media. The action contradicted his earlier pledge to continue the sessions on Wednesday.

The commission then proceeded to ask the National Elections Committee (PPI), the provincial election committees and regency committees to follow up the poll results.

Rudini, who represented the MKGR Party, dismissed criticism leveled at the commission. He declined to discuss other motives behind the minority parties's refusal to endorse the poll results.

Rudini, a former home affairs minister and Army chief, pledged to push the commission to complete its work agenda on time.

PPI chairman Jacob Tobing said many PPI members were now in the provinces to help in the allocation of legislative seats for the next House, provincial and regency legislative councils.

"Legislators for regency legislatures will be sworn in between August 3 and August 5, those for provincial legislatures will be installed between August 19 and August 28 while new House and People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) members will be sworn in between October 1 and October 3," he said.

"The MPR General Session will go ahead in accordance with the set schedule." (har/prb/rms)