Panwaslu commits to uphold election rules

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Taking the 1999 general elections as a lesson, the Elections Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) has promised to improve supervision of the election process and follow up on any reports of offenses and pass them on to the National Police.

Panwaslu member Didik Supriyanto said supervision would play a pivotal role to ensure a fair and honest election.

"Supervision will help improve the people's trust in the results of the elections," he said during a discussion organized by the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) here on Saturday.

He said of the 4,290 cases of election rules violations reported to Panwaslu in 1999, only 26 of them were brought to court. Just four of those cases resulted in a guilty verdict.

The 1999 general election received world recognition as the most democratic polls the country had organized since 1955.

Despite the weak law enforcement, people generally were accepting of the results in 1999, because most could understand that it was all prepared in a very brief time, Didik said.

He said, however, that the country had ample time to prepare for this year's elections. Therefore without proper law enforcement, people would not trust the results of the elections.

"That is why Panwaslu must prove its commitment," he said.

The presence of police personnel and prosecutors in the Panwaslu was expected to help improve the performance of the supervisory committee.

Didik, an editor with detikcom news portal, disclosed that Panwaslu in regional chapters had reported numerous violations to the local police.

Fake diplomas submitted by legislative candidates, alleged support by current mayors or regents of certain political parties and early campaigns were the most prevalent of the violations reported to Panwaslu, according to Didik.

"There are reports of favoritism toward certain parties in Central Java because, of the 34 regents and mayors in the province only seven are non-partisan," he said.

Political analyst Arbi Sanit, who also spoke at the discussion, expressed his optimism that the upcoming elections would not only run peacefully but also produce quality leaders.

He admitted, though, that he had neither data nor other concrete reasons to convince people about his optimistic forecast.

"Of course I believe the elections will bring advantages to the country. The election must produce solutions to the many crises the nation is facing," Arbi of the University of Indonesia (UI) said.

He said only people who have integrity, capability, managerial skills, vision and leadership could lead the country and bring about recovery.

"Vision will help leaders implement any solutions or policies in the right context," he said.