Legislators pay less attention to KPU's independence
Legislators pay less attention to KPU's independence
Edith Hartanto and Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Legislators say that they are committed to holding the 2004
general election as scheduled, but they do not seem to care about
the importance of an independent General Elections Commission
(KPU).
Interviewed on Saturday, legislators from the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and the Golkar
Party said that the KPU should be able to operate independently
under the auspices of the government as prescribed in the bill on
elections currently being deliberated by the House of
Representatives (DPR).
"If KPU members feel they can't organize the polls on time,
they should resign," said Agustin Teras Narang of PDI Perjuangan
faction.
"Frankly, we don't see any problem with the independence of
the KPU in the bill," Agustin, who chairs House of
Representatives Commission II for legal and home affairs, said.
The KPU comprises 11 independent and professional people who
were installed last year in a departure from the 1999 election
procedures in which KPU members consisted of political party
representatives.
KPU members have complained that the election bill drafted by
the government undermines its independence by giving the Ministry
of Home Affairs most of the authority to organize the polls. They
claim that an independent KPU is a prerequisite to a democratic
election.
The KPU warned over the weekend that insubstantial
deliberation of the election bill could force the next elections
to be postponed, as a credible election needed at least two years
of preparation. Less than two years of preparation would result
in an election of inferior quality, they said.
One of the unintended consequences of a delayed poll would be
an extension in the tenure of President Megawati Soekarnoputri
and her Cabinet as well as legislators.
KPU members are due to present their own draft of the election
bill at a hearing with the House on July 11.
Teras said that a limited budget had made it impossible for
the establishment of a totally independent KPU.
"Why must we debate on this (the separation of the KPU general
secretariat from the Ministry of Home Affairs) matter? It does
not relate to the KPU's independence.
"The KPU cannot receive a budget from the government if its
general secretariat is not placed under the authority of a
ministry," he said.
The 1999 elections cost the state Rp 1.3 trillion (US$149
billion at the current rate). The current government faces a
budget deficit partly due to the prolonged economic crisis.
Legislator Yahya Zaini of the Golkar Party said that with
staff coming from the bureaucracy, the KPU could still function
as an independent election organizer.
"The KPU wouldn't have to worry about that. By using the
ministry's staff, the KPU wouldn't have to worry about paying
them because they are civil servants," Yahya said.
What the lawmakers seem to overlook is that the bureaucrats
may be tempted to resort to corruption. Thousands of fraud cases
during the 1999 elections allegedly committed by bureaucrats and
political party officials have yet to be brought to court.
The election bill is part of a package of four political bills
that must be endorsed by the House in December at the latest as a
precondition to holding the 2004 general election.
MPR Decree No.IV/1999 stipulates that the next general
election must be held by 2004 at the latest. The KPU will decide
on the exact election date after consulting with the President.
Main bones of contention concerning KPU's independence
Government:
* In carrying out its duty, the KPU is assisted by a secretariat
general which functions as a government institution under the
auspices of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
* The secretary-general and deputy secretary-general are
inaugurated and dismissed by the President based on proposals by
the minister of home affairs.
* The organization and structure of the KPU secretariat general
are decided by the minister of home affairs.
* The KPU secretary-general is answerable to the KPU chairman
only for the operational aspects of the election, but at the same
time the secretary-general is tied administratively -- on finance
and budget -- to the minister of home affairs.
KPU
* The KPU is assisted by a secretariat general which functions as
a non-departmental government institution.
* The secretary-general and deputy secretary-general are proposed
by the KPU and installed as well as dismissed by the President.
* The organization and structure of the KPU general secretariat
are set by the President based on the KPU's proposals.
* The KPU secretary-general is answerable to the KPU chairman.
Source: The government and the KPU's version of the general
election bill.