KPU members threaten resignation
Muhammad Nafik The Jakarta Post Jakarta
All 11 members of the General Elections Commission (KPU) have threatened to resign en masse if the House of Representatives passes a new election bill that would effectively undermine the commission's independence.
Commission deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti warned on Thursday that commission members would resign in protest if the bill, which furnishes the government with control over the commission, were passed.
"We'd fight first. If it is futile, we will take a firmer stance (resignation)," he stated, while two political bills -- one on elections and the other on political parties -- were being deliberated at the House.
Many believe that under the bill on elections currently being deliberated at the House, the commission would be liable to government intervention, as the commission, in its work, would be "assisted" by a secretariat-general that would function under the auspices by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The secretary-general and deputy would be civil servants appointed and dismissed by the president based on proposals by the minister of home affairs.
The secretariat-general would also have unbridled authority as it would determine the commission's organizational structure and working mechanism.
It will also manage the commission's finances and budget.
The secretariat-general will also control data and information related to the electoral process, including ballot tabulation.
Ramlan had no reservations about the possible outcome of such a bill.
"There's potential for manipulation and corruption in the 2004 general election if KPU has no authority to control its secretariat-general," Ramlan said.
A plethora of alleged electoral fraud from the 1999 general election still remains unresolved.
Much of this had been due to the fact the previous commission was comprised of individuals and party representatives, who themselves took part in the electoral process.
Despite various objections, including from non-governmental organizations, the bill received support from senior Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and Golkar Party legislators.
PDI Perjuangan's Agustin Teras Narang even challenged commission members to make good on their resignation threat.
Golkar's Yahya Zaini further argued that despite the fact that the secretariat-general was structurally tied to the bureaucracy, the commission could still serve as an independent poll organizer.
The General Elections Commission will present its own revision to the two bills at a hearing with House Commission II on legal and home affairs on July 11, which is chaired by Teras.
Ramlan insists that full independence is an "absolute prerequisite to fair and accountable elections," and this means having full authority over its offices and staff, including the secretariat-general.
He proposed that the commission set up its own secretariat- general, free of government control.
Commission members were selected last year by the House after a presidential proposal to replace the previous commission, which comprised representatives from 48 parties and five government appointees.