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)