Lawyers to defend NGOs

Tue, 14 Sep 2004, 00:00 WIB | Source: JP

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

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