Panwaslu officials face threats, continued violations
The Jakarta Post, Semarang/Mataram/Makassar
The occupational hazards of supervising the electoral preparations became clear on Thursday as a provincial election supervisory official reported to police that he had been receiving threats to his person.
Head of the Central Java Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) Nur Hidayat Sardini said he had requested police protection after receiving threatening text messages to his cellular phone from Jan. 5 to Jan. 7.
He said the messages included those that said: "I know what time you leave home and return to the office ..."; "I know where you live and that your wife is now alone at home".
Nur Hidayat said he suspected several regents and their supporters from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), because the Committee had taken measures against their activities that were considered disguised campaigning.
"My wife is quite shocked by the threats," he said. Nur has filed a report with Central Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Didi Widayadi.
Nur said 11 regents in the province also led PDI Perjuangan chapters, and that their disguised campaigns included school textbooks in their respective regions donning red covers and public officials wearing red jackets.
Red is the official color of the party.
In Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, the provincial Panwaslu removed some 100 flags, banners and other party paraphernalia from various public facilities. Mataram Panwaslu head Qazuini said the Committee would remove such promotional material if party officials did not do so.
Committee officials were accompanied by a team of armed police while carrying out their task.
Muhammad Nur, leader of Golkar's Ampenan district chapter, protested, "The party flag (that was removed) was on my private property."
Qazuini said the measures were decided last month between the Panwaslu, the General Elections Commission (KPU) and the Mataram administration. The three bodies had agreed that promotional material could only be displayed at specific locations such as the headquarters of parties, at the Panwaslu and the KPU.
In Makassar, South Sulawesi, the Regional General Elections Commission (KPUD) returned some 1,000 sets of documents submitted by legislative candidates from 24 parties, saying they were either incomplete or questionable.
KPUD member Muhammad Darwis added that none of the parties had fulfilled the 30 percent quota for women candidates, and that only 287 out of 1,119 candidates, or about 26 percent, were women.
Parties have until Jan. 19 to meet the quota.
The Coalition of South Sulawesi Women Activists (KAPSS) said none of the parties ranked women aspirants high on their provincial candidacy lists. At the municipal and regental levels, only 20 women from 15 parties were given top slots.
The numerical order of candidates determine their chances of getting a legislative seat, if their party wins enough votes.
KAPSS spokesperson Husaemah Husain said if parties still failed to meet expectations in their final lists, the organization would advocate against voting for those parties.
Activists have been pushing for the minimum 30 percent quota for women legislative candidates, which is stipulated in the General Elections Law, but has not been enforced.
The quota was established in a bid to give women a greater voice in the legislature.