KPU accused of misusing funds

KPU accused of misusing funds

JAKARTA (JP): The chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Union
Party, Sri Bintang Pamungkas, suggested on Friday that the
General Elections Commission (KPU) may have misused electoral
funds.

Speaking to journalists here, Sri Bintang said he had strong
suspicions of collusion in the use of Rp 20 billion (US$8.69
million) provided to KPU sub-committees.

The abuse of funds, according to Sri Bintang, is evident in
the acquisition of various necessities for the elections such as
paper, ink and the printing of ballot sheets.

When pressed by journalists for tangible evidence, Sri Bintang
said he so far only had his own experience and the confession of
another Commission member to back his suspicions.

As reported by Antara, Sri Bintang claimed he had recently
declined an offer of a large sum of money by an entrepreneur. He
said he suspected the money was out of gratitude for a business
contract received from the Commission.

He said another Commission member also admitted to receiving
such "gratuity" from an entrepreneur.

"But for the time being it's a bit premature to divulge his
name," Sri Bintang replied when journalists asked to name the
Commission member.

Sri Bintang said he had tried to meet with KPU chairman Rudini
to discuss the matter, however had not been able to do so.

He urged for the KPU to be audited so its credibility would
not be called into question.

Violations

Meanwhile in Medan, North Sumatra, the provincial branch of
the Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP) reported
that severe electoral law violations had occurred in at least
four areas: Medan Belawan, Medan Polonia, Medan Tuntungan and
Labuhan Batu.

Mulana Samosir, KIPP coordinator in Medan, said violations
ranged from the use of forged registration papers to vote-buying.

In Labuhan Batu there was a dubious offer of bonuses at a
state-owned company less than 48 hours before the June 7 polls
Mulana said.

According to one witness, such bonuses are customary during
major religious holidays.

Mulana said these suspected violations had been reported to
the provincial supervisory committee, but so far there has been
no response.

"In my view the committee is quite weak and not active enough
in tackling these violations. It's as if there is some sort of
political fear," he remarked.

Meanwhile, the University Network for Free and Fair Elections
(Unfrel) said that the balloting of 34,988 Indonesian voters
working or studying in Serawak, Malaysia, was not conducted in a
free and fair manner.

Unfrel said the voters had been intimidated to vote for a
certain party.

Rousdy Said, a member of Unfrel's honorary board, told
journalists in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, that many of the
conditions set by the General Elections Commission were
unapplicable abroad.

He noted that there was not a single witness from the 48
political parties during the elections in Serawak.

He also regretted that several companies refused to permit its
employees time off work to go to the polling booth.

Furthermore, he lamented the Malaysian Ministry of Education's
policy of recommending that Indonesian students not be given
permission to become volunteers in local polling committees
because this was considered a political activity.

Rousdy explained that two Indonesian students had to resign
from a local committee because of this.(39/mds)