Parties report minister to police

Parties report minister to police

Damar Harsanto and Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post,
Jakarta

Thirty-four political parties filed a complaint with the Jakarta
Police on Wednesday against members of the Ministry of Justice
and Human Rights' party verification team, alleging that they
accepted bribes during party screening.

Speaking on behalf of the 34 parties, Agus Miftach of the
Indonesian People's Unity Party (PPRI) said the complaint was
made based on a report on Metro TV alleging that ministry
officials Cahyo and Wicipto had received money from political
parties during the party screening.

"We demand that the Jakarta Police summon and scrutinize the
two officials as this is related to the elections and concerns
the entire nation. This case could pose a serious threat to the
legality of the 2004 elections," Agus said.

He said the 34 parties, including 12 parties that passed the
screening, had included Minister of Justice and Human Rights
Yusril Ihza Mahendra and the head of party verification team,
Ramli Hutabarat, in their complaint to the police.

Besides filing a report with the police, Agus also called on
the General Elections Commission (KPU) to halt the screening of
political parties until the legal dispute was resolved.

The Indonesian Nationalist Alliance Party (PANI), the Reform
Party, the Marhaen National Party, the People Opposition Party
(Popor), the Gotong Royong Party and the People Benefit Party
were among the political parties that filed the complaint with
the police.

The justice ministry announced last Saturday only 32 of 66
political parties in the third and final qualified as legitimate
political parties. Those that failed to qualify are not allowed
to contest the 2004 legislative elections.

Indonesia is scheduled to hold legislative elections in April,
and a two-phased direct presidential elections in July and
September 2004.

Many of the parties that have failed the screening have
accused the justice ministry of unfair practices during the
verification process.

The ministry has said these parties are welcome to take legal
action if they are unsatisfied with the outcome of the
verification process.

Separately, the Pelopor Party led by Rachmawati Soekarnoputri
and the Pancasila Patriot Party have registered with the KPU.

As of Wednesday, only 19 of 50 parties that passed the
ministry's screening had registered with the KPU to take part in
the upcoming elections.

Thursday is the deadline to register with the commission.

KPU member Mulyana W. Kusumah said the commission would set up
eight teams to verify all of the parties, with each team
consisting of at least six KPU officials.

He was optimistic the KPU would be able to check all of the
parties' documents within one week.

Mulyana also said the commission would open an office in West
Irian Jaya province on Oct. 28.

He said about 42 candidates were competing for five seats with
the West Irian Jaya KPU.

West Irian Jaya split from Papua province earlier this year.
Another new province, Central Irian Jaya, was also to be declared
but violent opposition to the new province forced a delay in the
declaration.