KPU set to reduce supervisory body's electoral authority

KPU set to reduce supervisory body's electoral authority

M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta

In an apparent move to diminish the authority of the official
Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu), the General Elections
Commission (KPU) said on Wednesday that it would scrap some of
the committee's functions in a planned regulatory revision.

KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti said its members had
agreed that substantial changes must be made to KPU Regulation
No. 88/2003 on Panwaslu to draw "a better performance" from the
institution.

The KPU has complained of its lack of commitment in applying
its authority, leading to ineffective penalties for violations of
the election laws.

Among the proposed changes are that the committee be empowered
to resolve only those disputes between electoral contestants.

"In the case of the presidential election, the Panwaslu has
the authority to handle complaints and disputes involving only
presidential candidates. They will have no authority to handle
issues arising between the commission and candidates," he said.

The supervisory committee recently ruled that National
Awakening Party (PKB) candidate Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid's
challenge against a KPU ruling that disqualified him from the
race constituted a KPU-candidate dispute.

In future, the committee would also be obliged to work
meticulously in presenting its cases. "In filing complaints on
electoral violations to law enforcers, the Panwaslu must have a
strong basis, meaning that it has to collect as much hard
evidence as possible," Ramlan said.

The KPU also seeks to require that the committee submit a
progress report upon request, which would be a radical departure
from the regulation, which stipulates that the committee is
required to submit a report only at the end of its term.

Ramlan added that the committee would work only within those
guidelines set by the KPU, as all regulatory power rested with
the elections commission.

"The Panwaslu is only allowed to make certain regulatory
interpretations as determined by the election laws and KPU
rulings," he said.

He said the elections commission would send a draft revision
to the Panwaslu and expected to receive a response next week.

Ramlan brushed aside suggestions that the revision was
intended to weaken the official supervisory committee.

"Such an accusation can only arise if we harbored suspicions
about one another. We have good intentions," he said.

Earlier, however, a number of Panwaslu members threatened to
quit their posts, should the KPU press ahead with its planned
revisions.

Article 120 of General Elections Law No. 12/2003 stipulates
that the KPU has ultimate authority over the Panwaslu, including
its establishment and dissolution.

Relations between the KPU and Panwaslu have deteriorated in
the months following the April 5 legislative election and in the
run-up to July 5 presidential election.

Panwaslu chairman Komaruddin Hidayat has said previously that
none of the committee's recommendations on electoral fraud had
been heeded by the KPU.