House move to keep party grip on power slammed

Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta

A group of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) criticized the House of Representatives (DPR) on Thursday for suggesting that candidates wishing to run for election as governors, regents or mayors would have to be nominated by political parties.

They urged the House to allow independent candidates to run so as to give an equal opportunity to qualified, non-party candidates to get elected as local chief executives.

"Independent figures must be allowed to nominate themselves, otherwise the public's choices will be unduly restricted," Regional Development Studies Center (PSPK) director Laode Ida told the press here on Thursday.

Attending the press briefing were the secretary-general of the Formappi legislature-watch organization, Sebastian Salang, Indonesian Procurement Watch (IPW) member Hayie Muhammad, a member of the Demos Right group, Agung Widjaja, and activists from the Independent Committee for Election Monitoring (KIPP).

They were reacting to the latest developments in the deliberation of the bill on the amendment of Law No.22/1999 on local government.

The amendment bill is intended to introduce direct elections for governors, mayors, and regents, and remove the power of local legislatures to elect local administration chief executives.

The government-sponsored bill, as it now stands, allows independent figures to nominate themselves to stand in gubernatorial, mayoral and regental elections.

During the deliberations, however, House factions started making suggestions about amending the bill so as to require independent candidates to be nominated by political parties.

Thus, an independent would only be allowed to contest an election for the post of administration chief executive if he secured the nomination of a political party or group of parties.

Heri Akhmadi from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) faction said that the support of political parties was essential for ensuring effective local government.

Earlier, A. Chozin Chumaidy from the United Development Party (PPP) had admitted that the factions intended to restrict the rights of independent candidates in order to maintain the power of the country's political parties.

Article 38 of the amendment bill states that persons who have no political affiliation may nominate themselves if they can prove the support of at least one percent of the total number of electors. Non-party figures may also be nominated by community organizations and professional groups.

"Community organizations should not be given the chance to nominate candidates as elections are the business of the political parties," Chozin asserted.

Laode condemned the statements of the legislators, saying that a continued electoral monopoly for the political parties would only encourage vote-buying and money politics at the local level.

It would also encourage political conspiracies between local legislature members and local chief executives, he said.