LIPI to study parties' 1997 election campigns

LIPI to study parties' 1997 election campigns

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) will
conduct strategic social, political and cultural studies on the
political campaigns for next year's general election, the
institute's chairman, Soefjan Tsauri, said yesterday.

At a hearing of House Commission X for science and technology,
Soefjan said the institute would also prepare a database on past
general election campaigns. The hearing was led by Amir Singgih
of the Armed Forces (ABRI) faction in the House of
Representatives.

Soefjan said one of the studies would be titled Data on the
Social and Political Role of ABRI in the Second Long-term
Development Plan period.

He said the study would be used by the government and the
National Council for Defense and Security to design policies on
the organization of general elections.

President Soeharto has called for new regulations on election
campaigning to prevent a repetition of the chaos and violence
that has marked past elections. He asked the National Council for
Defense and Security to draw up new regulations for the 1997
general election, scheduled for the end of May.

The President has stressed that election campaigns should no
longer be turned into shows of force by the political
organizations contesting elections. The council, comprising
retired military officers, advises the President on state
matters.

Calls to regulate election campaigns were first voiced by
Golkar, the ruling political grouping, at its leadership meeting
in October last year. Golkar officials have suggested that
outdoor rallies be banned because they could lead to trouble, and
that they should be replaced by indoor meetings and televised
discussions among the candidates running for the House of
Representatives.

Soefjan said yesterday that for the 1997/1998 fiscal year,
LIPI would propose 394 activities, grouped into 42 project
proposals and request Rp 279.6 billion (US$119 million) in
funding from the government. This figure is up 177 percent on
last year's funding of Rp 102 billion.

Soefjan was quoted by Antara as saying that each researcher
would need between US$40,000 and $60,000 for his research and
development activities, while US$50,000 was needed for each
researcher each year to cover overhead costs.

"Based on this calculation, the average spending of LIPI each
year is Rp 175.6 billion, including the salaries of 1,527
university-graduate employees," Soefjan said.

In recent years, the institute has not only failed to attract
the best university graduates but has also suffered a serious
"brain drain". The best university graduates are shunning
academic life by opting to work for private companies where
salaries are much higher.

Between 1987 and 1992, more than 170 researchers abandoned
LIPI for private institutions citing poor pay. In 1992, the
monthly salary of its lowest ranking researcher was Rp 60,000
($31) per month, while senior researchers received Rp 250,000.
(swe)