PIB registers for 2004 election

JAKARTA: The New Indonesia Association (PIB) party re- registered with the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights in a bid to run in the upcoming elections.

Party chairman Sjahrir led the delegation during the registration on Friday. Sjahrir, a noted economist, has been nominated as the party candidate for the 2004 presidential election.

PIB also reported on Friday that it had established branches in 24 provinces, 181 regencies and 1029 subdistricts and had 10,000 party members across the country.

Indonesia will hold its first-ever direct presidential election in 2004, preceded by the legislative election on April 5.

At least 237 parties have registered with the justice ministry. Only parties that have chapters in at least half of the country's 31 provinces and branches in at least half of the country's 410 regencies and municipalities may contest the election.

As of Friday, there were only 49 parties registered for the elections. -- JP