Panwaslu quizes police chief over alleged poll partiality

Slamet Susanto and Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post/Yogyakarta/Jakarta

The Yogyakarta Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) questioned on Friday Yogyakarta municipal police chief Sr. Comr. Condro Kirono over his alleged partiality in the July 5 presidential election.

The police officer has been in the spotlight over the past few days since thousands of T-shirts bearing the pictures of Megawati Soekarnoputri and running-mate Hasyim Muzadi were found in his office.

The police chief's interrogation was conducted behind closed doors, sparking suspicions among both the public and journalists, as it was different from interrogations in other electoral violation cases.

Previous interrogations by the Panwaslu were open to the public.

After Friday's session, Panwaslu Yogyakarta head Teguh Basuki told press that from its preliminary findings, the committee believed the seeming partiality was most likely unintentional.

Teguh said the Panwaslu had also questioned Sena Ryakudu, Condro's brother-in-law, who had entrusted the T-shirts to the police chief. Sena, an ardent Megawati supporter, was to have distributed the T-shirts in Bantul regency.

It is unclear why Sena chose to store the T-shirts at the police station, instead of another transit point.

Teguh said testimony from Condro and Sena would be used to probe deeper into the case. "We hope to conclude the investigation soon," said Teguh, who was accompanied by three other Panwaslu members during the questioning.

Meanwhile, emerging from a room at the Panwaslu's local office, Yogyakarta Police chief Condro refused to comment on the interrogation.

Yogyakarta's alleged partiality case surfaced two weeks after Banjarnegara Police held a gathering that instructed participants to support the Megawati's candidacy.

Banyumas Police chief Sr. Comr. Andi Mapparessa overseeing Banjarnegara regency was held responsible over the impartial promotion of the incumbent president, and is being prosecuted by a National Police tribunal over the violation.

According o Article 28 of the National Police Law No. 2/2002, police officers must shun political activities.

Separately, National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said on Friday he welcomed the investigation into Condro. However, he defended his subordinate, saying the scandal was merely "a transit point problem".

The T-shirts were never meant to be used by the police to campaign for Megawati, he said. The Yogyakarta Police station was merely a transit point before they were distributed to Megawati supporters in Bantul.

Da'i stressed that he never ordered police personnel across the country to campaign for President Megawati Soekarnoputri. He asserted that he had given three confidential orders clearly instructing police officers to stay neutral during the September election.