Poll watchdog activists arrested in Lampung

Poll watchdog activists arrested in Lampung

JAKARTA (JP): Two activists of the independent election
watchdog in Lampung were arrested yesterday, despite some
government officials giving the organization a cautious welcome.

The Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation protested on Tuesday the
arrest of Bambang Ekalaya and Sahzan Sarif who were in the
process of declaring the creation of the Lampung branch of the
Independent Election Monitoring Committee.

Spokesman Hendardi said in a statement that the arrests
violated the Constitution, which guarantees people's right to
assemble.

Yesterday, Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and
Security Soesilo Soedarman said the committee was
unconstitutional but "acceptable".

"It can be accepted as long as it doesn't disturb the
activities of the state electoral monitoring committee," he said
after addressing a three-day meeting of provincial governors at
the Home Affairs Ministry.

Attorney General Singgih, who is the chief of the state
election monitoring committee, had earlier made a similar
statement. He said the new committee could give inputs to the
state electoral committee but should not meddle in its affairs.

The government's stance on the issue "is very clear, isn't
it?" Soesilo said.

The independent committee was established on March 15 by more
than 50 journalists, lawyers, statesmen and activists. It is
chaired by senior journalist and former chief editor of the
banned Tempo weekly magazine Goenawan Mohamad.

The idea for establishing the independent committee originated
from the Moslem-based United Development Party (PPP), which
alleges that cheating in previous elections has been overlooked.

Several PPP chapters in the provinces last year threatened to
boycott next year's election unless the government, which backs
Golkar, guarantees fairness.

The initiative has since been taken up by a number of private
organizations, which in January established a regional election
monitoring committee in Bandung, West Java. It was then followed
by the establishment of regional committees in various cities.

Head of the State Intelligence Coordinating Body, Lt. Gen.
(ret) M. Sudibyo, also welcomed, albeit guardedly, the watchdog.

"The committee's presence will be welcome if its activities
are constructive for improving the quality of the general
election