Lawyers to defend NGOs

JAKARTA: Over 70 lawyers have pledged to defend a coalition of five non-governmental organizations that has been reported to the police by the General Elections Commission (KPU) for defamation.

Iskandar Sonhadji, the coordinator of the lawyers, said over the weekend the move was aimed at protecting the rights of individuals and organizations working to eradicate corruption in the country.

The NGOs had demanded the Corruption Eradication Commission investigate alleged markups in the KPU's procurement of materials for the April 5 legislative election, which they said caused some Rp 375 billion (US$41.6 million) in state losses.

The KPU filed a defamation complaint against the NGOs with the police. KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti said there was no corruption in the procurements, merely inefficiency. -- JP