Panwaslu left holding the bag of responsibility

By Sri-Edi Swasono

JAKARTA (JP): As reported by the media last week, a total of 17 out of 48 political parties have endorsed the general election results, although some of them have jotted down addendum. They have the right to do so. It is also the right of another group of 27 mostly minor political parties to reject the results, because they have their valid reasons.

The Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) is therefore tasked not only to evaluate the reasons for the 27 parties to refuse to sign the election results, but it must also be able to hold a dialog and make new agreements with all other members of the General Elections Commission (KPU), both with those who have signed the results as well as those who have not.

Unfortunately, Panwaslu is threatening to penalize the 27 political parties (Terbit, July 28). If Panwaslu brings the case to court, the legality of the general election must await the court's decision. That would be very stupid. The 27 political parties will be happy to face the lawsuit.

To strong-arm the 27 political parties is tantamount to threatening to sue Rudini himself, who is no less than the KPU chairman. After all, what has Panwaslu done? Or the other election supervisors and observers, including NGO activists, the private sector and the universities, who received a lot of funding, much from abroad?

Apparently, they have let irregularities and violations go unsolved. It is curious that Panwaslu is now threatening the parties. Will the general election results be legal if they are decided under such threats?

It is disappointing that the KPU has rejected the general election results. And it is only this week that the status of the general election results will be made public. The KPU chairman has disclaimed responsibility, as has President B.J. Habibie, who has deferred the case to Panwaslu to make the final decision.

The results of the general election are there to see. The majority of votes have been channeled, although there are some flaws. President Habibie too has extended his congratulations to the winners of the general election. The votes obtained by the other parties, including the accompanying flaws, should be accepted as legal by all sides as the results of the general election. It is certain that to reach this consensus a strong national leadership is required.

Rudini's role should not stop with the submission of the problems to the President. His leadership is expected to continue to break through the impasse. Rudini is a member of the minor Deliberation, Work and Cooperation (MKGR) Party that did not get enough votes, but he is also chairman of the KPU and the people have put their hopes on him. Rudini should not disappoint the people. It is questionable that Rudini, as an MKGR member, has refused to sign. Is it because the general election is really not honest and fair? Rudini needs to give an open explanation.

The general election is the result of a great national effort. Many sacrifices have been made. It is not only the government that has spent energy and funds. The common people, too, have actively supported the government's limited funds and capability to make it happen. Without the people's help, the general election would not have run smoothly. The national sacrifice should not be wasted.

Hopefully, the general election results, with their shortcomings, will be accepted by all sides without anyone losing face. There must be some give-and-take by all sides, without the Panwaslu style of threatening. Those parties refusing to sign must be an integral part of the success of the general election.

Fraud and manipulation must indeed be settled legally to respect honesty and fairness. These will be pending matters that must be accepted by all sides. We must respect the general election. The general election must have results, but we should not be satisfied if they are less than 100 percent honest and fair.

In the past we had the Provisional People's Consultative Assembly (MPRS). If necessary, we can have a Preliminary People's Consultative Assembly (MPRP). The MPRP may exist provisionally while treating all violations in the general election as pending matters that must be settled before the establishment of the final MPR. It is important to keep a clear time frame for these pending matters.

The writer is a member of the National Front, a group of opposition political figures.