PDI and PPP insist on poll rule changes
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)