KPU to screen Panwaslu candidates
JAKARTA: The General Elections Commission (KPU) will screen nine candidates for the final three seats on the Elections Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) on Thursday.
The candidates are legal expert Harkristuti Harkrisnowo from the University of Indonesia, Muslim scholar Komaruddin Hidayat from the Jakarta Islamic University, Rev. Saut Sirait from the Indonesian Communion of Churches, Rustam Ibrahim from the Institute of Economic and Social Research, Education and Information, and Naimah Hassan, a lecturer at Aceh's Syah Kuala University.
Also seeking a seat on the committee are Nurjanah of Muslim organization Nasyiatul Aisiyah in Yogyakarta, Zuraini Djamal Irwan, a lecturer at Trisakti University in Jakarta, lecturer Saldi Isra of the West Sumatra Andalas University and Sirra Prajuna from the Independent Committee for Election Monitoring.
The KPU will elect three people to join three others who already passed the screening last week. Those three are journalist Didik Supriyanto, politician Rozy Munir and legal expert Topo Santoso.
The Elections Supervisory Committee is an independent body that will be in charge of ensuring fair legislative and presidential elections in 2004. --JP
;AFP; ANPAi..r.. Scene-RI-attacks-Ba'asyir Ba'asyir's lawyer eyes presidency JP/INDONESIA
Ba'asyri's lawyer eyes presidency
JAKARTA: A lawyer representing a high-profile terror suspect announced on Wednesday that he was considering a run for the presidency in 2004.
"God willing, I will accept this mandate," Mahendradatta, who is coordinator the defense of terror suspect Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, told a cheering crowd outside a Jakarta court.
The lawyer was responding to scores of Ba'ayir supporters who asked him to run for president in order to protect the interests of Muslims.
The supporters, from the Indonesian Mujahideen Council and the Front for the Defenders of Islam in the city of Surakarta, displayed banners outside the courthouse that read: "Welcome, Mr. Mahendradatta, president in 2004."
Ba'asyir, the alleged leader of the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist group, began his defense on Wednesday in his treason trial. The case was adjourned until May 7.
Muslim cleric Ba'asyir is accused of waging a bloody terror campaign to try to topple the government and to set up an Islamic state. --AFP
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Team set up to audit Miranda's wealth
JAKARTA: The Public Servants Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN) is considering establishing a team to audit the wealth of Miranda Goeltom, a deputy governor of Bank Indonesia who was questioned by the commission on Tuesday, an official said.
"We will hold a meeting to discuss the issue," said Muchayat, the head of KPKPN's division for executive officials, on Wednesday.
He said one of Miranda's daughters was allegedly involved in a transaction of the central bank's promissory notes (SBIs).
"That's insider trading. I don't think the issuer of SBIs can buy the notes," Muchayat said.
Miranda, who has been nominated as Bank Indonesia governor, said earlier that there was no rule banning SBI transactions by central bank officials.
According to the KPKPN's records, Miranda owns property and savings valued at Rp 5.6 billion and has another US$56,000 in savings. --JP
;JP;RTA; ANPAa..r.. Scene-TKI-death-row 12 Indonesians in death row in KL JP/4/Scene
12 Indonesians on death row in KL
DENPASAR: The government is working to save 12 Indonesians on death row in Malaysia for various crimes, a government official said.
Marty Natalegawa, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said here on Wednesday 12 Indonesian migrant workers were awaiting execution in Malaysia for various offenses, including drug trafficking and murder.
"We have been working with lawyers to defend them, but we also have to respect Malaysian law," he said in response to news that a Malaysian court had just sentenced an Indonesian migrant worker to death for trafficking marijuana.
"It is the government's obligation to protect its citizens living in foreign countries," Marty said.