Poll commission to meet party leaders, officials

JAKARTA (JP): The General Election Commission (KPU) is to meet Tuesday with leaders of the 48 political parties and related government officials to discuss the potential for unrest around the June 7 general election, and to establish a commitment for peaceful, free and fair polls.

"We will discuss pre-campaigning, campaigning and post campaigning rules and punishments in a bid to curb conflicts between party followers. After all, almost all parties have stolen the start by campaigning prematurely," KPU chairman Rudini said.

Minister of Defense and Security/Indonesian Military Commander Gen. Wiranto, National Police chief Gen. Roesmanhadi, Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid and Minister of Justice Muladi are scheduled to attend the session, he said.

Rudini said the meeting was prompted by reports of bloody clashes between political party supporters.

"We will ask for parties' commitment to take responsibility for managing their followers. I sense that many parties are unable to control their supporters, especially at the grassroots level."

The 16-day official campaigning period is to start on May 19.

In the media briefing, Rudini also revealed his plan to ask Wiranto to announce the names of military officers to be appointed Indonesian Military (TNI) legislators so the public could pass judgment on the nominees.

The military has been allocated 38 unelected seats at the 462- seat House of Representatives (DPR).

"I think it'd be better that the (military legislature) names be announced like any other legislative nominees. After all, they would represent the people," he said. "Members of the public can air their objection of any names directly to the TNI commander."

Meanwhile, KPU government representative Andi Alfian Mallarangeng also said it is likely that in restive areas such as Maluku, East Timor and Aceh, voter registration be extended up to balloting day on June 7.

"That is in order to enable residents to directly register and vote, and be protected by security personnel (in balloting stations)," he said.

The KPU will also discuss on Wednesday whether to allow its members to take part in the campaigning period.

"I have said very early that KPU members must not campaign because to do so would endanger the independence of the body. We are all here as government officials serving the state," Andi said.

The KPU has banned political parties from using government officials in campaigns. Violating parties could face disqualification from the elections.

Meanwhile, Mahadi Sinambela, who represents Golkar in the KPU, said his party would not list the chairman of Supreme Advisory Council (DPA), A.A. Baramuli, as a campaigner.

"I guess Golkar can no longer act like a spoiled child. We are being excessively assaulted from various directions. Now we are playing by the rules," he said.

Baramuli has been widely reported to have engaged in premature party campaigning across the country.

Also on Monday, Danish Ambassador to Indonesia Michael Sternberg handed over 10,400 ballot boxes to Rudini.

"We want to prove our solidarity and support for the democratization process in Indonesia," Sternberg told journalists after the ceremony.

He said the transparent plastic boxes, worth US$150,000, formed part of the US$1 million assistance pledged by the Danish government to Indonesia, along with the US$460,000 spent to enable UNESCO to train 25 private radio stations in seven provinces on election reporting.

Sternberg said his government also channeled US$150,000 to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

Rudini said the ballot boxes will be used in Bekasi district.

* In Bandung, West Java, Rector's Forum, the independent election monitoring body, urged on Monday for poll watchers to be given access to KPU's computer network.

"(Efforts to monitor the poll would be) useless if we cannot exchange information and have full access to election affairs," chairman Sudjana Sapi'ie said.

* In Jakarta, the Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP) called on the police to probe the case of 1,000 missing ballot papers in North Jakarta.

* In Denpasar, Bali, the Provincial Elections Committee (PPD I) was reportedly encountering difficulties in setting up a campaign schedule because of the arrival of two new contesting parties in the area, namely the Murba Party and Indonesian Muslim Awakening Party (Kami Party). A total of 32 parties are now registered in Bali.

* While in Palu, Central Sulawesi, PPD I decided each of the 38 political parties in the area will have four rounds of campaign.

* In Jakarta, the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) said it would deploy 10,000 volunteers and 130 ambulances on polling day.

* In Madura, the University Network for Free and Fair Election (Unfrel) has opened a hotline to report poll rigging at 0324- 322541 or fax 0324-327418. (edt/43/38)