Parties yet to report source of their funds

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The commitment of political parties that will contest next year's elections to transparency is in doubt as they remain reluctant to disclose the source of their initial campaign funds to the General Elections Commission (KPU), a week after the deadline.

KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti said all the 24 parties had submitted the bank accounts where they keep their campaign funds, but only eight had informed the KPU of the initial amount of the funds.

Ramlan identified the parties that had informed the KPU of the initial campaign funds in their accounts as follows: The Marhaenisme Indonesian National Party (PNI Marhaenisme), the Socialists Democratic Labor Party (PBSD), Crescent Star Party (PBB), the United Development Party (PPP), the United Democratic Nationhood Party (PPDK), the Democratic Party, the Indonesian Democratic Vanguard Party (PPDI) and the Indonesian Nahdlatul Community Party (PPNUI).

Two parties, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the Reform Star Party (PBR) that had submitted more than one account must decide to use only one account.

Based on the Election Law, a party must separate the party's account and its campaign fund account.

Ramlan said the KPU would send letters to those parties to remind the parties of their responsibility to disclose the source of their campaign funds as mandated by law.

"That information is important to detect the flow of the campaign funds of a party, which is subject to audit by public accountants," he said.

But he admitted the KPU could not do anything about the parties' refusal to reveal the source of campaign funds as according to the Election Law the request is not binding.

Observers have criticized the law for not encouraging transparency and accountability.

Separately, chairman of the Maluku Regional Elections Commission (KPUD) Tatuhey Jusuf Idrus said six major political parties had threatened not to submit their lists of candidates for the provincial legislature following the House of Representatives' failure to amend the Election Law.

Chairman of Papua KPUD Ferry Kareth said major parties in Papua were also disappointed but dismissed any move to disrupt the election schedule.

KPU has allocated Maluku, Papua and North Sulawesi fewer seats in the 2004 elections than in 1999 as they have to share their seats with the new provinces that used to be part of them.

Maluku will have four House seats at stake, down from six in 1999, Papua 10 from 13 and North Sulawesi six from seven.

Parties Account balance

1. Marhaenisme Indonesian National Party (PNI Marhaenisme) Rp 1.5 million

2. Socialists' Democratic Labor Party (PBSD) Rp 1 million

3. Crescent Star Party (PBB) Rp 5 million

4. Freedom Party no report

5. United Development Party (PPP) Rp 1 million

6. United Democratic Nationhood Party (PPDK) Rp 2 million

7. New Indonesia Alliance Party (PPIB) no report

8. Freedom Bull National Party (PNBK) no report

9. Democratic Party Rp 5 million

10. Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKP Indonesia) no report

11. Indonesian Democratic Vanguard Party (PPDI) Rp 1 million

12. Indonesian Nahdlatul Community Party (PPNUI)Rp 2 million

13. National Mandate Party (PAN) no report

14. Concern for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB) no report

15. National Awakening Party (PKB) no report

16. Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) no report

17. Reform Star Party (PBR) no report

18. Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P)no report

19. Prosperous Peace Party (PDS) no report

20. Golkar Party no report

21. Pancasila Patriots' Party Rp 2 million

22. Indonesian Unity Party (PSI) no report

23. Regional United Party (PPD) no report

24. Pioneers' Party no report