Poll monitor lacks power to act against violators
Poll monitor lacks power to act against violators
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Electoral Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) said misuse of
state facilities by government officials for party interests
might be widespread ahead of the general election, but sadly it
had no power to take action against it.
Panwaslu member Didik Supriyanto said on Friday the committee
required witnesses to file complaints against alleged violations
committed by state officials during their visits to particular
regions.
"Based on the elections law, Panwaslu may only take measures
against violations that occur during the official campaigning
period. We can do nothing against state officials who visit
regions and meet their supporters, even if they use state
facilities," Didik told The Jakarta Post on Friday.
After visiting victims of the earthquake in the remote Papuan
regency of Nabire on Thursday, President Megawati Soekarnoputri
flew to the provincial capital, Jayapura, to inaugurate the Papua
branch office of her Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
(PDI-P).
The Papua trip came just a week before the campaign period for
the general election kicks off on March 11. Polling day will fall
on April 5.
Didik said almost all state officials whose parties would
contest the general election abused state facilities for their
political interests.
"We cannot forbid them because the law allows them to do so.
That's why Panwaslu can only call on them to behave ethically,"
Didik said.
Other state officials who lead political parties include Vice
President Hamzah Haz, of the United Development Party (PPP);
House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung, of the Golkar
Party; People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Amien Rais, of the
National Mandate Party (PAN) and Minister of Justice and Human
Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra, of the Crescent Star Party (PBB).
Another Panwaslu member, Topo Santoso, warned of more rampant
misuse of state facilities during the campaign period as state
officials would campaign for their respective parties.
He urged members of regional Panwaslu to take tough action
against officials who violated the rules, and suspend their
parties from the electoral campaign.
"Using state facilities during campaigning is a violation and
parties that breach the regulation are liable to
disqualification," Topo, also a lecturer from the University of
Indonesia, said while briefing members of East Java Panwaslu in
Surabaya.
He predicted vote buying and unauthorized campaigning would
dominate elections law violations during the campaigning period.