Harun Alrasyid quits KPU over election results

JAKARTA (JP): Pressure is building against the General Elections Commission (KPU), including from deputy chairman Harun Alrasid who abruptly resigned out of frustration over repeated delays in the poll results announcement.

The body became the target of various demonstrations on Thursday, while inside the office on Jl. Imam Bonjol in Central Jakarta, Harun personally tendered his resignation to KPU chairman Rudini.

Harun, a professor of constitutional law, represented the Islamic Community Party in the KPU.

"Pak Harun gave me a copy of his letter to the party chairman, requesting a replacement to represent the party at the KPU," Rudini announced during a break at the commission's plenary meeting.

"It is his right... the KPU cannot prevent his resignation nor persuade him against doing so," he said. He suggested Harun also inform President B.J. Habibie as the President installed the KPU members.

Speaking to the media after delivering the letter, Harun said he was disappointed with the commission's failure to complete the national vote count and announce the final poll results as previously scheduled on Thursday, July 8.

"The KPU cannot meet its own deadline on the poll results announcement. How long will it be delayed again for?" he said.

He said his disappointment with the KPU's performance was sparked when it told the National Elections Committee (PPI) to delay the national tallying of poll results on June 21 on the pretext of slow vote counting process in provinces.

Harun said he was also disappointed with the KPU members' attitude of attacking and insulting each other.

The PPI completed and announced on Thursday afternoon the final results of the votes counted in 14 provinces, namely Aceh, Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, Lampung, Jakarta, Central Java, Yogyakarta, East Java, Bali, Central Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, Irian Jaya and East Timor.

PDI Perjuangan was still leading with 87 House of Representatives (DPR) seats. Golkar and the National Awakening Party (PKB) followed in a tie with 35 seats each, while United Development Party (PPP) has 18 and the National Mandate Party (PAN) 15.

PPI chairman Jacob Tobing said on Thursday the body needed more time, up to July 21, in order to complete its job. This was in contrast to his statement on Tuesday when he said the vote count would likely be completed by July 15.

KPU deputy chairman Adnan Buyung Nasution begged for understanding for the delay when he met with 200 activists of the Anti-Status Quo Movement (GAS) on Thursday. The activists demonstrated in front of the KPU secretariat demanding the commission immediately complete and announce the poll results.

"We are facing difficulties in completing the vote count on time. We have predicted that it will be completed by July 21," he announced.

"If the KPU still fails to deliver final results, all of you can return and stage a demonstration here again," he said to the activists' loud cheers.

Another demonstration also took place in front of the KPU secretariat.

The joint demonstration was held by dozens of activists from the Muslim Students Association (HMI) and the Communication Forum of the Jakarta Muslim Students (FKMIJ). They demanded Soeharto and his cronies be immediately brought to court, the military be barred from politics, and the 1945 Constitution be amended.

Later, five activists of the Indonesian Committee for the Advocacy of the Disabled (KAPCI) staged a demonstration demanding their sociopolitical, economic and legal rights be considered and upheld by the new members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) and the future leaders of the state.

Interest group

The plenary meeting of the KPU also established on Thursday a 15-member team in charge of setting up criteria and selecting candidates for the 65-member Interest Groups at the MPR.

Earlier, the KPU determined nine societal groups to be represented in the MPR. They include religious groups, the disabled, women groups, NGOs, students, war veterans, intellectuals and artists.

The plenary meeting also criticized Government Decree No. 33/1999 on the General Election, which limits the KPU's authority in the establishment of poll results.

An article in the decree stipulates the Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) can validate the final poll results even if two-thirds of the KPU members decline to approve them.

"The government decree should be reviewed in a KPU plenary meeting," Edwin Henawan Soekowati, a KPU member, said. (imn)