KPU of prime importance

KPU of prime importance

From Media Indonesia

I refer to Media Indonesia's report of April 9 under the
heading "The election committee (KPU)'s existence is only
considered as a passing breeze" and would like to give the
following explanation.

The Interior Ministry understands the psychological
circumstances behind Pak Rudini's statement that it looked like
the government was ignoring the KPU, especially when it was
linked to the problem of the Supreme Court's fatwa (instruction,
guidance).

The government is not convinced that the KPU feels it is
considered as a passing breeze. The government has so far carried
out its task as the facilitator in an optimum way, working day
and night.

The service provided by the government may not be satisfactory
enough, but the situation will be increasingly difficult if the
government does not have a hand in it.

Due to the short time available, government appointees are
also on the committee for registration of voters (Pantarlih) to
help the political parties facilitate the places for voter
registration.

In election monitoring, the government has established a team
that helps the KPU in matters of accreditation, visas, IDs, etc.,
especially for election monitoring teams from abroad.

The Foreign Ministry has also instructed all RI representative
offices around the world to help independent teams for election
monitoring from abroad with various facilities.

I think the cooperation between the government and the KPU is
good. At the moment the KPU is the most important side and the
main priority for the government.

The government is fully aware that a good performance by the
KPU will help this nation pull through from various crises of the
people's trust to a truly democratic general election.

HERMAN IBRAHIM

Head of Public Relations

RI Interior Ministry