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.