More support pours in for KPU liquidation

JAKARTA (JP): The Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP) threw its weight on Thursday behind a plan to dissolve the General Elections Commission (KPU), citing its failure to maintain impartiality.

"We observed KPU was not independent and impartial during last year's elections," secretary-general of the poll watchdog Mulyana W. Kusumah told a seminar on local elections and the creation of new regions here. Several leaders of minor political parties attended the seminar.

The government has proposed that the House of Representatives amend the 1999 Election Law. The amendments include the dissolution of KPU.

House Speaker Akbar Tandjung responded positively to the proposal, saying the legislative body should uphold the liquidation of the 53-member KPU.

Bickering within the KPU, which is comprised of five government representatives and 48 representatives of the political parties contesting the polls, marred the election process. The KPU was also widely criticized for breaching the election law and its own regulations.

Mulyana stressed the need for an independent, professional and impartial body, as required by the State Policy Guidelines, to organize the upcoming local elections and the 2004 general election.

In accordance with the liquidation of the KPU, Mulyana said the existing election law should be revoked. He suggested that the government should instead enact a decree in lieu of law on elections, pending a new election law.

"It will take us a long time to review the law, while the local elections are approaching," he said.

He hoped that the decree to replace the 1999 Election Law and the presidential decree on the new KPU could be completed in October, the deadline for the government to hold local elections in three new provinces and 21 new regencies.

Political observer Affan Gafar shared Mulyana's view on the liquidation of the KPU, but offered a different opinion on the need for local elections.

"Local elections are unnecessary because they will cost the country a lot more money," Affan, who is also a government representative in the KPU, said.

He suggested that the new regions form their respective legislative councils based on their share of the votes in last year's June elections.

Local elections are scheduled to take place on June 10, following the creation of North Maluku, West Irian Jaya and Central Irian Jaya provinces early in October last year. The new provinces have been rocked with violence over the past year.

Meanwhile, chairman of the Local Elections Committee (PPL) Agus Miftach speculated that money was behind the proposal to dissolve the KPU.

"They are jealous. It's all about money," Agus, the chairman of the Indonesian Peoples Party (Pari), said.

PPL has proposed the government make available Rp 220 billion (US$29 million) for the local elections.

Agus said there had been no House approval of the government plan to dissolve the KPU and that Akbar's support for it was in his personal capacity. (jun)