KPU, IDI defend
KPU, IDI defend
Sari P. Setiogi, Jakarta
The General Elections Commission (KPU) defended on Monday its
decision to disqualify half-blind Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid
from the July 5 presidential election, saying that the Muslim
cleric was in poor health.
Gus Dur, who was removed from the presidential post in June
2001 for alleged incompetence, filed a lawsuit against the KPU
and the Indonesian Doctors Association (IDI), accusing the two of
issuing a discriminatory regulation against him.
In their defense on Monday, the commission and IDI argued
that, based on his medical checkup, Gus Dur could only
concentrate for 90 minutes and would easily become tired and
sleepy thereafter.
The KPU said Gus Dur, who was is? chairman patron? of the
country's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, also
suffered from vascular cognitive impairment, which impaired his
judgmental ability.
Citing the result of a medical checkup carried out on April 29
for all presidential and vice presidential candidates, the KPU
said that Gus Dur's left eyeball had shrunk, leaving zero vision,
causing visual impairment.
According to criteria stipulated in KPU Decrees Nos. 26/2004
and 21/2004 on the criteria for becoming presidential and vice
presidential candidates, people with disabilities are not
permitted to run for the country's top posts. Disability is
defined as a condition that might hinder a person from doing his
or her work as president or vice president.
Someone who has mental retardation, such as decreasing memory
found in minimal cognitive impairment and visual disability,
could not, according to KPU criteria, become a candidate.
The criteria have prompted questions concerning the rights of
people with disabilities to occupy the top posts.
The KPU and IDI agreed that there should be no discrimination
against any of the country's citizens but stressed that
requirements for specified positions, such as being a soldier, or
the holder of high political office, were necessary.
The trial was adjourned until July 26.