KPU to screen Panwaslu candidates

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

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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
JP/4/SCENE

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

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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.