PDI and PPP insist on poll rule changes

JAKARTA (JP): Minority parties in the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) were adamant yesterday in their demand that the government ease its role in the general election.

The Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) and the United Development Party (PPP) suggested that the Assembly ad hoc committee in charge of matters other than state policy guidelines, change a 1988 decree to give political parties an equal status with the President in the organization of the five- yearly elections.

"The President and poll contestants must share the electoral jobs ranging from planning to supervision, to ensure that a general election runs fairly," PDI spokesman Ismunandar said.

PPP wants the President's role in the general elections greatly reduced to only facilitate the organization of the general elections and control of the government budget for the event.

"The government's status as a facilitator means that the general election expenses must be paid from the state budget. The status also enables the government to monitor the polls directly," said PPP spokesman Zain Badjeber.

The 1988 decree, which has not been scrapped yet, states that the President holds the authority to hold general elections while poll contestants are to supervise and carry out the elections.

Dominant Golkar and its traditional allies -- the Armed Forces and regional representatives factions -- have outrightly rejected the suggestion, saying that the present election rules already involve poll contestants.

"Poll contestants already have representatives in election supervisory bodies at all administrative levels and witnesses in polling booths across the country," Golkar spokesman Moestahid Astari said.

"Giving poll contestants a larger role does not have to reduce the government's authority," he added.

No compromise was reached after six hours of debate in the session presided over by Wiranto of the Armed Forces faction.

All faction representatives to the committee agreed to continue the debate through lobbying between faction leaders and committee leaders today.

A lobby, which is held behind closed doors, is held whenever a deliberation comes close to a deadlock.

Wiranto said that with eight draft decrees left to be discussed, the committee members had approved his offer to apply a strict schedule so that they could finish their deliberation before Jan. 22.

The Assembly will take a two week recess from Dec. 22 to Jan. 3.

According to the new time arrangement, a draft will be deliberated over three days, although Wiranto said extra time would be allowed for the deliberation of "difficult drafts". (amd)