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.