JP/4/scene21

JP/4/scene21

Surya Paloh meets Yogyakarta sultan

YOGYAKARTA: One of Golkar's presidential candidates Surya
Paloh met with Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X on
Friday, more than one week after the latter withdrew from the
party's convention.

Surya Paloh, general manager of the Media Indonesia group,
said he intended to get first-hand information about the
withdrawal of the sultan from the convention.

Sultan Hamengkubuwono, who finished seventh in the first round
of Golkar's convention, withdrew shortly after the Supreme Court
acquitted Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung from corruption charges.

Many said that the acquittal would help Akbar to win Golkar's
ticket to run for president.

Surya Palloh disclosed on Friday that during the meeting the
sultan pledged to stay with Golkar and develop the party as long
as the party supports the reform agenda.

Separately in Jakarta, Akbar refuted the view that his
acquittal had paved the way for him to grab the ticket for the
presidency, saying that all six candidates have an equal chance.
- JP

;JP;ANTARA;
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Swedish-Indonesia-investigation team
Swedish prosecutors not ready yet
Jp/4/scene

Swedish prosecutors to arrive in March

JAKARTA: Indonesia is still unsure about the schedule of the
planned visit of Swedish investigators who will probe the alleged
involvement of Free Aceh Movement (GAM) leaders in terrorism and
crimes in Aceh and Jakarta, a government official says.

"We are still waiting for the dates of Swedish prosecutors
from Stockholm, who are expected to arrive either in March or
April. The earlier the better," foreign ministry spokesman Marty
Natalegawa was quoted by Antara as saying on Friday.

According to Marty, the government has prepared individuals to
be questioned by the Swedish investigators. He declined to give
any details.

"Several people have been named by Stockholm to be
interrogated. I cannot reveal the number or their identity
because everything is being processed," Marty said.

Stockholm prosecutors announced on Monday the launch of an
investigation into the alleged involvement of GAM leader Hassan
Tiro and his colleagues in criminal and terrorist acts in
Indonesia.

GAM has been fighting for independence for the resource-rich
Aceh since 1970s, with over 10,000 people, mostly innocent
civilians, killed in the conflict to date.

;JP;ANTARA;
ANPAa..r..
Scene-kpu-priorities
KPU told to set priorities
JP/4/scene

KPU told to set priorities

JAKARTA: The General Elections Commission (KPU) should set
priorities in preparing the upcoming elections, political analyst
Andi Mallarangeng said here on Friday.

Andi said KPU as the election organizer should be able to
identify issues that deserved priority and those that were less
important.

Andi, a KPU member in the 1999 election, cited as an example
the recent fuss about problems in the procurement of ballot boxes
that could disrupt the elections.

Issues related to ballot boxes and ink procurement, including
their distribution throughout the country, should not be a
priority issue for the KPU, he said.

"On the other hand, the commission should make contingency
plans to cope with unexpected situations, for instance, when on
election day there are no ballot boxes ," Andi said.

The KPU could overcome the problem by authorizing local
commissions to make their own ballot boxes, he added.

"If it is difficult (to provide aluminum-made boxes as
required under KPU standards), even a bucket with a cover can be
used as a ballot box," Andi said. --Antara