Late parties receive kind treatment from KPU

JAKARTA (JP): The General Election Commission (KPU) on Wednesday relaxed its own rules and allowed two parties to run for House of Representatives (DPR) seats despite missing Tuesday's midnight deadline for submitting lists of legislative candidates.

Commission chairman Rudini said: "The Indonesian Christian Nationalist Party (Krisna) and the Indonesian Muslim Awakening Party (Kami) have been included despite the fact that they were a few hours late...We cannot just ditch people's aspirations, especially in this era."

Krisna and Kami reportedly submitted their legislative lists at around 3 a.m. on Wednesday.

"I take responsibility for this decision. The two (parties) were not that late and we have a moral obligation not to curtail their right just like that," he said.

"In the current political situation, the KPU cannot be too strict with its rules. Sometimes we have to be flexible," Rudini added.

Rudini said on Tuesday that his office would not tolerate late submission of the lists.

Krisna listed 110 candidates from 18 provinces, while Kami submitted 75 candidates from 20 provinces. Their documents were received at 3 a.m. by security guards at the KPU office.

By midnight on Tuesday, 46 out of the 48 parties eligible to join the June 7 poll had submitted the lists of legislative candidates for House of Representatives (DPR) 462 seats.

The popular Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) registered only 164 candidates from 10 provinces, while the United Development Party (PPP) submitted 636 nominees from 25 provinces.

The National Elections Committee (PPI) has decided to allow parties to submit additional names of legislative candidates along with necessary documents up until May 9.

"Parties will be allowed to add or remove the names of candidates until shortly before the list of legislative candidates is announced on May 12," PPI chairman Jacob Tobing, who also represents the PDI Perjuangan on the KPU, said.

Asked whether PDI Perjuangan was facing difficulties finding potential candidates, Jacob simply said: "No...No problem. And there's no friction in our party, either."

Later on Wednesday, however, the party submitted a list of legislative candidates for the remaining 17 provinces marked with significant changes.

The party's popular chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri will not stand in South Jakarta as previously expected, but will instead be nominated for Bandung in West Java.

Asked to comment, PDI Perjuangan leader Mangara Siahaan simply replied: "Ask Ibu Megawati about the matter."

PDI Perjuangan figures who will run from Jakarta include Roy B.B. Janis, Kwik Kian Gie, Sabam Sirait and Aberson Sihaloho.

Political activist Pius Lustrilanang will run in Bogor and businessman Arifin Panigoro in Tangerang.

In East Java, Megawati's younger brother Guruh Soekarnoputra will run from Blitar regency along with Roeslan Abulgani and Haryanto Taslam in Surabaya, while noted law professor Dimyati Hartono will run from Central Java.

Separately, as of 8p.m. on Tuesday, 36 political parties had submitted lists of nominees for the provincial legislature in the Central Java capital of Semerang.

They included the People's Sovereignty Party (PDR), the Indonesian Workers Party (PPI), the Marhaenist Indonesian National Party and the National Awakening Party (PKB).

In South Sulawesi, residents of Polmas have been angered by the inclusion of Nurdin Halid on the list of potential candidates for the local regency legislature. Nurdin, who will stand for Golkar, was recently controversially exonerated in a multi- billion-rupiah fraud case involving the use of cooperative funds.

In Palu, Central Sulawesi, Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung reiterated that incumbent President B.J. Habibie is still the ruling party's strongest presidential candidate.

"I've been traveling across the country. Golkar is the biggest party and so far Habibie has received the most support," Akbar boasted. (edt/har/27/44/38/)