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)