House probe urged in ballot box case

JAKARTA: Activists with the Jakarta Development Watch (Jadewa) urged the House of Representatives (DPR) on Tuesday to summon the General Elections Commission (KPU) over the controversy surrounding the ballot box tender.

They alleged that ballot boxes made by PT Survindo Indah Prestasi were of low quality.

"The low quality of ballot boxes will allow ballot papers to be tampered with," Jadewa director Santoso AS said at a meeting with the House Commission II for law and home affairs here.

He did not explain how the ballot papers would be tampered with.

Santoso said that he got the prototype of ballot boxes from a KPU member who was concerned with the quality of ballot boxes for the 2004 elections.

He, however, refused to disclose the identity of the KPU member.

During the meeting, Santoso alleged that some members of the House Commission II were involved in the ballot box procurement project.

The statement enraged Commission II vice chairman Abdul Rahman Gaffar, who threatened to report the libel to the police.

Indonesia is scheduled to hold a legislative election in April 2004, and two-stage presidential elections in July and September. -- JP