KPU cuts out four more parties from elections

KPU cuts out four more parties from elections

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

At least four more political parties have failed to pass the administrative screening by the General Elections Commission (KPU), and have therefore been ruled out of the 2004 elections.

The four latest casualties were the Catholic Party, the Islamic Party, the Pro-Republic Party and the Indonesian Workers Party.

Mulyana W. Kusumah, chairman of KPU's party verification team, said on Tuesday that based on the documents submitted, the parties did not have the minimum number of offices in the required 21 provinces.

"The Pro-Republic Party, for example, submitted documents showing that it had offices in 27 provinces but only six provinces met our requirements," Mulyana said in a press conference Tuesday.

Mulyana, who was accompanied by KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti and member Hamid Awaluddin, said documents from the Catholic Party and the Islamic Party met KPU's requirements in less than 10 provinces, while the Indonesian Worker's Party failed to show sufficient membership cards.

The four had been included on a list of eight parties that may not be eligible for the 2004 elections.

Mulyana said one of the eight, the Unitary Republic Party, finally managed to pass the KPU screening, while the remaining three -- the Glorious Marhaen Nationalist Party, the Indonesian Nationalist Unity Party and the Gotong Royong Party -- had not yet been rechecked.

"Therefore we can't conclude yet whether or not they will pass our screening. We will announce it tomorrow," he said.

With Tuesday's announcement, 37 parties have been ruled eligible. Field verification will continue until Nov. 20.

KPU will announce the final list of eligible political parties on Dec. 2.

Meanwhile, Ramlan said KPU had decided on the final electoral districts for several provincial legislature seats, but were still deliberating on Bali and Papua provinces.

He said the KPU changed North Sumatra's electoral districts from nine to ten, and Bangka Belitung from five to six electoral districts.

He said the total number of electoral districts for Bali's provincial legislature had not yet been decided due to requests from regencies/municipalities in Bali to change the electoral districts from seven to nine.

For Papua, the decision on the districting must wait for a legal opinion from the Supreme Court about the status of West Irian Jaya province, which has been in abeyance for four years.

The KPU also decided to divide Aceh province into 77 electoral districts for the regencies/municipalities.

Ramlan also said that Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) had promised to donate 2.5 million voting booths for the elections.

JICA also promised to donate US$11 million in cash to help KPU do its job, he added.

Meanwhile, Mulyana said 26 of 30 companies registered with the KPU, submitted their bids to provide ballot boxes.

One firm -- PT Kaharti Pasti Utama -- withdrew its participation in the tender, two firms -- PT. Bakrie Corrugated Metal Industry and PT Kusuma Megah Perdana -- were rejected due to late submissions and PT Angrilam Sinta Mandiri had made a mistake by placing its document in another portfolio.

The ballot box tender has become a controversial subject lately with an allegation from Monopoly Watch against strong tender participant Maspion Group, which the non-governmental organization accuses of environmental crimes.