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.