KIPP has the right to exist

KIPP has the right to exist

JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the Supreme Advisory Council Sudomo
said that the Independent Election Monitoring Committee has the
right to exist, but only the official Election Supervision
Committee has the legal basis to supervise the 1997 general
elections.

"That's democracy," Sudomo said yesterday, when asked by
journalists to comment on the existence of the independent poll
watchdog.

He said that although it would be appropriate for the
independent poll body to report on any discrepancies that might
occur, it was still the prerogative of the official supervision
committee to settle these matters.

"They can provide information, but it is the official body
that will address the matter," Sudomo remarked.

The birth of the poll watchdog last month has spawned other
monitoring committees. The government said earlier this week that
the poll bodies are not needed.

Sudomo said that the increase in the number of poll monitoring
groups is a part of democracy. Nevertheless, it also breeds
rivalry among the groups, he contended.

"In my opinion, democracy is now being interpreted as doing
whatever you want," he said.

He then called for the strengthening of the official
supervision committee, and urged the public to have faith in its
ability to carry out its task.

"Let's not continue to be suspicious of the official
committee," Sudomo said.

In a separate development, about 100 people belonging to a
youth organization affiliated with the ruling Golkar faction came
to the headquarters of the National Youth Committee in Kuningan,
South Jakarta to express their objection to independent poll
watchdogs.

The protesters claimed to represent youth organizations based
in Garut, West Java. Wearing military style uniforms, the
protesters yelled and sang patriotic songs in front of the
committee building.

They also unfurled banners which said, among other things,
"Dismiss the independent poll watchdogs," and "We will fight
against the disturbance-makers in the 1997 general election."

"Those bodies are unconstitutional," the youths said in a
statement. "They will only disturb the general election
process."

The protesters urged the independent poll bodies to disband
and to support the election through the three political parties
contesting the 1997 election. (01/mds)