KPU prepared for failures in elections

KPU prepared for failures in elections

JAKARTA (JP): Responding to gloomy predictions about the June
7 elections, General Elections Commission (KPU) chairman Rudini
acknowledged on Wednesday the body's preparation of strategies in
the event of failure.

"There will be no need to be confused or frustrated if the
elections fail because we have our own strategies to face even
the worst situation," he told the media after speaking at a
seminar on ways toward a free and fair general election and
democratic government, held at Hotel Borobudur in Central
Jakarta.

Rudini declined to elaborate on the contingency plans, saying
he would reveal them only if the scheduled elections were
disrupted.

He expressed optimism the elections would proceed freely,
fairly and in accordance with the schedule because almost all of
the preparations were complete.

Besides staff members of the national election committee, he
said representatives of political parties, a government
representative, election observers and two security guards would
be stationed at all balloting sites to ensure security, fairness
and freedom.

"Elections results must be signed by all witnesses before they
are sent to regional election committees, where ballot papers
will be processed with an on-line computer network operated by
the election commission," he said.

Preliminary results would be available within hours of the
voting, he said.

Rudini acknowledged the many attempts to discredit the
commission, which he believed were aimed at disrupting the
elections.

"Preparations for the elections have been widely
criticized... riots have been incited to scare the people and
all these are aimed at discrediting the government and foiling
the elections."

He also acknowledged the campaign period scheduled from May 19
through June 4 would be prone to clashes among party supporters.

"However, political parties will be responsible for organizing
their own campaigns and controlling their supporters so such
clashes could be avoided.

"Sporadic clashes may occur but they would not develop and
spread into nationwide chaos," he said.

Meanwhile, Saparinah Sadli, a scholar from the University of
Indonesia, criticized political parties for their lack of
strategies to attract women voters, who would constitute a bigger
number of voters in the elections.

"Some parties have taken necessary measures, but most do not
have any commitment to include gender issues in their platform,"
she said in a discussion on women voters here on Wednesday.

Secretary-general of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Faisal
Basri said in the discussion his party would not "blow up" the
gender issue as a ploy to grab as many votes as possible in the
elections.

"PAN has a general platform. Despite their majority, (issues
that are of interest to) women voters will not be given a special
place in the party's platform," he said.

Antara news agency reported from Banda Aceh that as many as
10,000 volunteers from the local chapter of the Indonesian Muslim
Students Association (HMI) were readied help monitor the
elections in the province.

"If manipulations are found and the legislative candidates do
not represent us, we will persuade the Acehnese not to (vote),"
Muhammad Saleh, chairman of the HMI Aceh chapter on Wednesday.

Saleh described how many people in the province were
disappointed with the government and the military. They were now
unreceptive to the elections and would prefer to conduct a self-
determination referendum. (rms)