KPU to assist parties with code of ethics

KPU to assist parties with code of ethics

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The General Elections Commission (KPU) has decided to speed up its plan to facilitate a meeting among political parties from January next year to December, to set up a code of ethics that will promote non-violent activities ahead of, during, and after the 2004 elections.

KPU deputy chairman, Ramlan Surbakti, said on Tuesday that the code of ethics could only be set up after Dec. 2 when KPU announces parties eligible to join in next year's elections.

Besides, he said, KPU also needs time to prepare their proposal for the parties' code of ethics.

"Basically the code of ethics will require all parties to carry out their activities peacefully," Ramlan told reporters after the commission's plenary meeting on Tuesday.

He said KPU would propose, among other things, that a party must not claim a territory as its own area and must not prohibit other parties from conducting activities there.

A political party should also agree to accept another parties' victory and must not call on its members to carry out demonstrations, according to him.

The code of ethics will essentially become the 'rules of the game' during the 21-day campaign period in March, aside from the commission's instructions on campaign procedures, he added.

Political parties have reportedly agreed to meet each other to set up a code of ethics in order to avoid violence -- such as that of the Buleleng, Bali clash -- from recurring. Political analysts and non-governmental organizations have reportedly expressed their support of the idea.

Alleged members of the Indonesian Democratic Party for Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and Golkar Party were involved in bloody clashes recently that killed at least two Golkar members.

Aside from the code of ethics, Ramlan said KPU would no longer wait for consultation with the House of Representatives to decide on the controversial allocation of seats for the 2004 House.

"We will decide on the seat allocation for the House by ourselves, but we will inform the House of our decision," he said.

According to him, KPU's decision not to consult the House over seat allocation was taken following the Supreme Court's response to its request, which implied that the commission has the authority to resolve problems arising from seat allocation.

"We will immediately issue instructions on the seat allocation for the House," he said.

The allocation of 550 seats for the House has drawn complaints from legislators from North Sulawesi, Maluku and Papua provinces as they would have less seats than allocated in the 1999 elections.

For example, Maluku, which was allocated six seats for the House in the 1999 elections, would have to share three seats with new province North Maluku, thus it would only be allocated three seats.

Ramlan also commented on the planned budget cut, saying KPU had sent a letter to the House to review the latter's recommendation to the government, to reduce the commission's budget from Rp 3.9 trillion to Rp 3 trillion.

"We hope that the House will rethink its recommendation to cut our budget," he said.

Separately, KPU member Mulyana W. Kusumah, who is in charge of the ballot-boxes tender, said PT Survindo Indah Prestasi won the ballot-boxes tender as its technical specifications were superior, including rate of production, quality and dimensions.

The decision will be presented at the commission's plenary meeting for approval, according to him.