Journalists educated on poll coverage
JAKARTA (JP): Even as political parties gear up for the June 7 general election, journalists are being trained to improve their knowledge of various aspects of the election.
One of the training programs, organized by the Indonesian Media Watch (IMW), is a workshop for reporters on election monitoring between March 1 and March 5 in Surabaya, the capital of East Java, Antara reported on Tuesday.
The program coordinator for IMW, Didik Puji Yowono, said the workshop aimed to develop insights into possible irregularities in the election.
"It is hard to imagine that the next general election can be conducted without violence. However, a fair and free election is a must. But who's going to guarantee it," Didik asked.
"It is important to know where the loopholes exist for fraud and other such practices," Didik said.
The British Broadcasting Corporation will also give a series of workshops on editorial skills for local radio journalists and broadcasters. The workshops will enable radio stations to develop awareness of the electoral process, the British Embassy noted in a press statement.
Also, workshops for political parties here will be given by Britain's Westminster Foundation for Democracy, the release said. This program aims to help political parties develop a code of conduct for the election, including respect for fair play in the context of newly enacted political laws.
Separately in Yogyakarta, political observer Ichlasul Amal of Gadjah Mada University urged small parties to establish a fusion rather than a coalition.
"How can a party merge with others without knowing its own strengths or its future partners," Ichlasul said after a student dialog on elections.
It is possible to form a fusion before the elections, unlike a coalition which has to wait until after the results of the poll, he said.
So far 147 political parties have registered with the Ministry of Justice. Of these, 116 parties have been given corporate body status, while the remaining 31 parties have until Wednesday to complete registration requirements.
The following are some of the activities of political parties and their members:
* The National Awakening Party (PKB), the United Development Party and the faction of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) led by Budi Hardjono banded together on Tuesday to deploy hundreds of supporters to protest Golkar's control of the social safety net fund in Tegal, Central Java.
Reports said that many residents there were given a portion of the fund in return for a promised vote for Golkar in the next poll.
"The fund is a loan from the World Bank. Why did Golkar claim that the money came from it? Do not fool the people," Asikin Kaharudin of PKB said.
"We will boycott the poll if Golkar continues such practices," Ernawati of PDI added.
* The National Mandate Party (PAN) lost one member of its party advisory council, Usman Pelly, who chose to remain a civil servant rather than staying in politics.
"I chose to remain a professor of anthropology at Medan Teachers Training College. I submitted my resignation to PAN chairman Amien Rais two weeks ago," Usman was quoted as saying by Antara on Tuesday.
"I just want to concentrate on educational matters," he added.
* The United Development Party, through its branch in Central Java, nominated its chairman, State Minister of Investment/Chairman of the Investment Coordinating Board Hamzah Haz, as its presidential candidate.
Branch chairman Karmani said on Monday, "Our champion is Hamzah Haz. We will not nominate (President) B.J. Habibie because Pak Hamzah is one of the best PPP party members. He deserves to become president." (edt/har/44/45)