Megawati's signature allegedly faked in regental election
Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang
The director of a local non-governmental organization (NGO) said on Wednesday that President Megawati Soekarnoputri's signature was forged in order for a candidate to win support from his party in the Tangerang regental election.
Ibnu Jandi of the Public Policy Institute (KLP) said the executive board of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) in Banten issued a recommendation on Jan. 7, which was allegedly signed by the party's chairwoman, Megawati Soekarnoputri.
"We discovered that Megawati's signature on the recommendation was forged after comparing it with her signature in the 2002 Korpri anniversary book, but both of them are very different," Jandi told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
He said that the signature did not have to be an exact match, but that the style should at least be the same.
Recommendation No. A-072/IN/DPP/I/2003 contains four points of instruction from the party in Banten. One point instructs all Tangerang PDI Perjuangan councillors to elect Doddy Anshory, the chairman of the party's faction in Tangerang, who is one of the candidates, as the new Tangerang regent for the 2003 to 2008 period.
Another point in the recommendation called on all party activists and cadres in the regency to implement the policy made by the PDI Perjuangan party in Banten. The recommendation went on to say that those who did not obey the points outlined in the recommendation would be sanctioned.
Jandi said that the regency council and its regental election committee would investigate the allegations.
"If the allegations turn out to be true, it means that the election was rigged and there will be repercussions from it," he added.
Doddy Anshory strongly denied allegations that the President's signature had been forged, saying that the party had gone through the right channels to issue the recommendation.
"The recommendation was issued by the PDI Perjuangan in Banten, not only Doddy. Megawati is the President. Who would chance forging her signature? Whoever could do such a thing is really brave," Doddy told the Post.
The election committee has listed the five leading pairs of candidates competing for the seats of regent and deputy regent in a final election to be held on Feb. 27.
The candidates are: Ismet Iskandar and Noodom Sukarno of the National Awakening Party (PKB), Nahdlatul Ulama Party (PNU) and Justice and Unity Party (PKP) factions, Cecep Mihardja and Khamrin Jafar of the Functional Group Golkar faction, Dadang Kartsasmita and Ichsan Soelistio of the Unity and Development Party (PPP) faction, Doddy Anshory and Purwandi of the PDI Perjuangan faction and Dadang Kartasasmita and M Fadli Rakasima of the Justice Party (PK) faction.