House to set criteria of KPU membership

House to set criteria of KPU membership

JAKARTA (JP): The empowered House of Representatives played
down on Monday objections raised by several non-governmental
organizations on the nomination of 22 public figures to the new
General Elections Commission (KPU).

Deputy chairman of the House's Commission II for domestic and
legal affairs Ferry Mursyidan Baldan told reporters, after
receiving the group of NGO activists, the legislative body would
set its own criteria for selecting the KPU members.

"They (the NGOs) seem to dictate us. We have our own criteria
to decide whether the candidates are eligible for the posts,"
Ferry of Golkar party said.

However, he failed to elaborate, saying the House commission
had not discussed the qualifications for the members yet.

However he promised that the House would complete selecting
the 11 members of the KPU before its current sitting period
closes at the end of this year.

"The selection of the KPU members and the Supreme Court chief
will be completed this year," Ferry said.

Last month, the government submitted to the House 22
candidates to fill 11 seats in the KPU. Among the nominees were
Anas Urbaningrum, former chairman of the Indonesian Islamic
Student Association (HMI); the Independent Election Supervisory
Committee (KIPP) secretary general Mulyana W. Kusumah; Catholic
priest and intellectual Mudji Sutrisno; chairman of the
Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI)
Hendardi; and chairman of the National Youth Committee (KNPI)
Adhyaksa.

During Monday's hearing, the NGO activists, representing among
others, the Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP); the
Center for Electoral Reform (Cetro); the Indonesian Corruption
Watch (ICW); and the Environmental Forum (Walhi), accused the
government of not being transparent in selecting the candidates
by not involving the public's participation.

They also questioned the capability and unclear visions of the
candidates.

"The House must not repeat the mistake in selecting the
members," Hadar Gumay of Cetro told the House members.

He suggested that the House announce the criteria and the
selection procedures and invite public participation.

The candidates should be university graduates, passed medical
and psychological tests and have no affiliation to any political
groupings, he proposed.

"The candidates should write an essay and undergo an
interview. The House can then assess them and announce the score
to the public," Hadar said. (jun)