New Order officials eligible for DPD
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Former government officials of the Soeharto administration and graft suspects were among the 757 candidates from 26 provinces declared fit to run on Tuesday by the General Elections Commission (KPU) for the Regional Representatives Council (DPD).
Former environment minister Sarwono Kusumaatmadja and former ambassador to Singapore Lt. Gen. (ret) HBL Mantiri, who had served during the New Order regime of president Soeharto, qualified as Jakarta candidates, as did businesswomen Kemala Motik and Mooryati Sudibyo and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) politician Aberson Marle Silaloho.
People's Consultative Assembly deputy speaker Ginandjar Kartasasmita, who served as a Cabinet minister under Soeharto, and former Siliwangi West Java Military commander Maj. Gen. (ret) Tayo Tarmadi, were among the 42 candidates from West Java.
Ginandjar has been named a suspect for his alleged involvement in a graft case involving state oil and gas company Pertamina when he was mining and energy minister.
G.K.R. Hemas, the wife of the Yogyakarta governor, led the list of 30 candidates who passed the first screening by the Regional General Elections Commission (KPUD) of Yogyakarta.
In South Sulawesi, 36 aspirants qualified, but former state minister of state enterprises Tanri Abeng, former State Logistics Agency head Beddu Amang and former Golkar legislator Arnold A. Baramuli must wait to hear a decision on their residential status.
Tanri has been living outside South Sulawesi for many years, whereas the law requires DPD candidates to have been living in their representative province for three consecutive years or for 10 years since the age of 17.
Regarding the eligibility of former New Order officials, KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti said the Election Law did not exclude them from candidacy.
"We are just implementing the law, and it does not discriminate against government officials during the New Order," he said.
Observers had earlier warned of the return of the New Order in the 2004 elections through political parties linked to the past regime.
DPD candidates from the remaining six provinces will be announced by Dec. 18.
The Election Law accords four representatives per province.
The DPD and the House of Representatives are to form the People's Consultative Assembly, the highest law-making body in the country.
The DPD election is closed to party executives, except for those who have left the posts at least three months before they registered for the elections.
KPU member Mulyana W. Kusumah, who is in charge of the DPD candidacy verification process, said all DPD aspirants would be announced on Dec. 17 and Dec. 18 according to KPU instruction.
"We will also ask relevant KPUDs to recheck those candidates who still have problems with their requisite documents."
Another KPU member, Anas Urbaningrum, said verification of the remaining DPD aspirants would provide the public more time to select the best candidates.
"For example, three Yogyakarta aspirants claimed ignorance of their inclusion in the board of executives of certain parties. So we need to check the truth of their claims," he said.