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)