Local elections to be held before June 10
JAKARTA (JP): The chairman of the General Elections Commission (KPU) Rudini inaugurated on Wednesday 51 members of the Local Elections Committee (PPL) who will organize elections simultaneously in the newly established provinces and regencies before June 10.
Agus Miftah from the Indonesian People's Party (PARI) chairs the committee, with Golkar Party's Mahadi Sinambela, who is now the state minister of youth affairs and sports, Djuhad Mahja of the United Development Party (PPP), Hasan Pottaboga of the Indonesian Nationalist Party-Front Marhaen (PNI-FM) and Afan Gaffar representing the government, sitting as deputy chairmen.
Agus said after the inauguration ceremony that the planned polls were to elect regional legislative councils in three new provinces -- North Maluku, Central Irian Jaya and East Irian Jaya -- and 32 new regencies, including Pidie and North Aceh in the troubled province of Aceh.
"The exact date for the elections will be determined on Monday's meeting, which will constitute the committee's time table," he said.
The government decided last month to divide Maluku into two provinces and Irian Jaya into three provinces, in a bid to accelerate development programs and improve the socioeconomic status of people in these areas.
Agus said the committee will meet on Thursday with the minister of home affairs, who represents the government, to consult over the details of the operational mechanisms of the polls.
He explained further that the mechanism would be similar to that which was applied in last June's election, albeit with a few modifications, such as adopting mandatory indoor rallies to avoid conflicts between party supporters.
"The first step is to establish a regional committee to organize the local elections and make a list of prospective voters", he said, adding that the KPU would supervise this.
Agus admitted that it would face some administrative and security problems in Pidie and North Aceh regencies and North Maluku province.
"A lot of village offices have been destroyed in Aceh, therefore it will be difficult for us to establish regional poll committees in those areas," he said.
He said he had anticipated security problems in the two Aceh regencies.
Pidie and North Aceh did not hold elections in June due to security concerns while North Maluku has been rocked by communal clashes in the past few months.
Nevertheless, Agus vowed that the show must go on. He said he had asked both the military and community leaders to maintain peace and security, so that the polls could run safely and fairly.
Agus said planned polls would increase the number of House of Representative (DPR) members by 32 and People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) members by 15.
According to Election Law No. 4/1999, each regency should be represented in the DPR and each province deserves five representatives in the MPR.
Agus estimated the upcoming elections would cost the KPU between Rp 300 billion and Rp 400 billion.
"KPU has saved a stand-by loan from the state budget amounting Rp 200 billion. If the committee agrees, we will ask for Rp 200 billion more from the state budget," he said.
Agus said if the government could not afford to provide the extra funds, the committee would seek international funding, such as from the United Nations Development Program, which donated money at time of the June elections.
The KPU has also set up seven working committees which are responsible for, among other things, assessing the implementation of election laws and regulations, the election process, the budget and any irregularities during the voting. (02)