KNPI pledges to guard election
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian youths vowed yesterday to help the Armed Forces maintain order during the May 29 general election and the presidential election in March next year.
Leaders of the National Committee of Indonesian Youths (KNPI), an umbrella for 39 youth groups, told Armed Forces (ABRI) Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung they would support legal actions undertaken by the military to quell any attempts to disturb the polls and the general assembly of the People's Consultative Assembly.
"The Armed Forces with its defense and sociopolitical roles is all that people can rely on to make the election and the general assembly a success," the youths said in a statement delivered by representative Ali Masykur Musa.
The promise was made at a ceremony marking the deployment of KNPI's 15,000-strong backup election security forces at Senayan's eastern parking lot.
Also present were State Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Hayono Isman, Armed Forces Chief of Sociopolitical Affairs Let. Gen. Syarwan Hamid, Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja, Jakarta military commander Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso and President Soeharto's son Bambang Trihatmodjo, who is chairman of an association grouping the children of Armed Forces' veterans.
The chairman of the politically well-connected KNPI, Maulana Isman, failed to turn up due to ill health. He is the younger brother of Minister Hayono Isman.
The pledge came amid growing calls from unrecognized groups to boycott the May 29 poll.
The Indonesian Democratic Union Party, led by politician Sri Bintang Pamungkas, has announced a program to boycott the election. Anonymous groups also circulated leaflets in several towns recently urging people not to exercise their right to vote.
Surveys in Malang, East Java and Yogyakarta found that the majority of students responding to a questionnaire said they would abstain from voting.
President Soeharto told youths and students recently to uphold their responsibility to political stability through participation in the election.
Soeharto has also repeatedly warned of harsh penalties against people who try to persuade others not to vote or attempt to obstruct them from visiting polling booths.
Bintang was the first to be charged with encouraging people to boycott the election when he was arrested March 5. The Attorney General's Office extended his detention period last week.
The United Development Party (PPP), the dominant Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic Party will contest the May election.
The KNPI also urged the election contestants to refrain from unethical practices to gain support.
"Each political organization must uphold ethics which derive from the Pancasila state ideology and the 1945 Constitution," it said in the statement. "They also have to respect the principles of a direct, general and confidential election."
The KNPI also commented on brawls and riots pitting Golkar and PPP supporters in the Central Java towns of Pekalongan, Rembang, Banjarnegara, Temanggung and Wonosobo.
Security authorities have sought legal proceedings against preacher Afifudin Musytari Al Hafidz on a charge of inciting the Pekalongan rioters. The Central Java military command has banned all gatherings ahead of the May election.
Gen. Feisal hailed the KNPI's pledge, stating that the Armed Forces was nothing without the help of the people.
"Everybody has to take part in maintaining national stability, including youths and students, so that the boiling political temperature ahead of the election remains under control," he said. (amd)