New claims surface about money politics

New claims surface about money politics

JAKARTA (JP): Despite being threatened with lawsuits, the
Urban Poor Consortium (UPC) made on Wednesday fresh allegations
that Golkar Party and the People's Sovereignty Party (PDR)
misused state facilities, the social safety net fund and small-
scale credit funds.

The coordinator of the non-governmental organization, Wardah
Hafidz, demanded in a media briefing on Wednesday that Golkar and
PDR be barred from the June 7 polls for their involvement in
money politics, and that the Elections Supervisory Committee, the
Attorney General's Office and the National Police follow up its
findings

"Golkar and PDR need to be disqualified from contesting the
June 7 general election for their involvement in money politics,"
Wardah said.

"In most of the cases we discovered, farmers were given loans
by cooperatives, but for the payoff they had to become members of
PDR," Wardah said.

She said there was a case where Golkar officials promised
ginger farmers in the Kabandungan area of Sukabumi, West Java,
they would not have to repay their loans if Golkar won the
elections in their area. However, if Golkar lost, they were told
they would have to repay the loans.

The UPC also alleged that in West Nusa Tenggara, Golkar and
PDR officials told recipients of the social safety net fund that
the money came from them.

Wardah said UPC was ready to face the lawsuit PDR leaders
threatened to file against the organization, adding that all of
its reports on election violations were supported by accurate and
valid data.

"We have witnesses and testimony (for those reports). We're
not making things up," she said.

The chairman of PDR, Latief Burhan, denied previous
allegations that the party misused the social safety net fund.

"The JPS (social safety net) fund goes directly from Bappenas
(the National Development Planning Board) to the needy. We have
nothing to do with it," Latief said on Monday. He said if
necessary, PDR would sue Wardah's organization for defamation.

Wardah was accompanied by Hendardi and Johnson Panjaitan of
the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation at the media briefing.

Wardah also revealed testimony by witnessing alleging money
politics in Jombang, Sidoarjo and Lamongan, all in East Java. One
former member of PDR in Jombang said on Tuesday that the Ministry
of Cooperatives and Small Enterprises provided Rp 13 million to
pay Jombang residents to attend the ceremony marking the founding
of PDR in Jakarta on April 17.

The PDR is known to have close ties with Minister of
Cooperatives and Small Enterprises Adi Sasono.

Meanwhile, the Independent Elections Monitoring Committee
reported that leaders of farmer groups in Lamongan and Sidoarjo
were promised Rp 20 million in loans and PDR T-shirts if they
agreed to form "PDR commissioners" in their villages to ensure
the party's victory in their respective areas.

She said reports of the alleged violations were submitted by
"concerned citizens" as well as poll monitors.

Wardah dismissed suggestions she was out to defame certain
parties. "Our only concern is to educate people so they are aware
of their political rights. We are a nonpartisan organization."

Separately, deputy chairman of the Elections Supervisory
Committee Mulyana W. Kusumah said his office would soon discuss
reports of alleged money politics by PDR and Golkar.

"We will clarify the matter with the related parties," Mulyana
said.

Meanwhile, the University Network for Free and Fair Elections
(Unfrel) reported on Wednesday an alleged violation of election
rules by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan).

"PDI Perjuangan held an illegal campaign by mobilizing people
during the night," Unfrel's Shady Arpenta said.

In a related development, leaders of Golkar's Jakarta chapter
said they would protest if the Jakarta Elections Supervisory
Committee decided to disqualify the chapter from the remainder of
the campaign period for reported campaign violations.

A number of Golkar security personnel were seen on Tuesday
wielding machetes and bamboo spears to drive away people who had
earlier stoned cars carrying party members in Jakarta.

Chapter deputy chairman Ade Surapriatna said the threatened
disqualification would not be justified because Golkar security
volunteers were only confronting the mobs.

"Governor (Sutiyoso) and city military commander (Maj. Gen.
Djadja Suparman) have called on the people to protect themselves
from mobs during campaigning, haven't they," he said.

"Unfortunately there were people (armed with weapons). Can you
imagine if (Golkar chairman) Akbar Tandjung was killed then? Who
would be responsible then," he said. (edt/ind)