KPU, PPI split over vote-count schedule

KPU, PPI split over vote-count schedule

JAKARTA (JP): A Wednesday morning decision by the National
Elections Committee (PPI) to start the national ballot count on
Thursday was overruled an hour later by a decree issued by the
General Elections Commission (KPU).

The decree, signed by KPU chairman Rudini, orders the PPI not
to start the national vote count pending a further decree to set
the date for the process to begin.

"The plenary meeting of the General Elections Commission
agreed that the PPI cannot start the national vote count tomorrow
(Thursday)," the decree says.

KPU member Rasyidi said the decision was made in compliance
with article 62 of the 1999 General Elections Law, which
stipulates that the national vote count could start only after
all 27 provincial elections committees submit final poll results
and all complaints of election irregularities and fraud are
settled.

Rasyidi, also a member of the KPU's 11-member special team
assigned to inventory all election complaints, said the KPU would
not punish the PPI, but would hold the PPI responsible if it
continued with the plan.

Earlier in the morning, PPI chairman Jacob Tobing held a press
conference announcing that the Committee would start a gradual
vote count on Thursday, although less than half of the provincial
elections committees have submitted poll results and many
complaints of election violations have not been addressed.

Rudini also ruled that the PPI could not start the national
vote count until the committee receives official reports from all
108 Overseas Elections Committees (PPLN). As of Wednesday, 97
Overseas Elections Committees had submitted their reports.

In Bandung, the Rectors Forum, an independent poll monitoring
group, claimed it had completed counting votes in 20 provinces in
its own parallel vote tabulation.

According to the independent count, which has a 1.5 percent
error margin, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle won in
nine provinces and Golkar in 10 provinces. (43/imn)