Journalists educated on poll coverage

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)