Presidential candidates draw ballot numbers

Muninggar Sri Saraswati and Moch. N. Kurniawan, Jakarta

The General Elections Commission (KPU) continued on Sunday the next stage of proceedings for the presidential election despite a request from the Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) to postpone it, following the controversial disqualification of former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid from the presidential race.

Five pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates drew their numbers for the country's first-ever presidential election at the KPU, which was heavily guarded in anticipation of protests from Gus Dur's supporters.

All looked happy with their numbers, which will be used to determine the location of each pairing on the ballot papers.

Number 1 was drawn by Golkar's presidential candidate Gen. (ret) Wiranto and the last, number 5, was drawn by the candidate of the United Development Party (PPP), the incumbent Vice President Hamzah Haz.

While number 1 was "easy to remember," Wiranto said, Hamzah said as quoted by detik.com that the last number would also bring luck because, among other reasons, "PPP is party number 5 (in the legislative election), the election was on April 5 ..."

The other candidates are the incumbent President Megawati Soekarnoputri who got number 2, leader of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Amien Rais, number 3, and former chief security minister Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, number 4.

All attended the proceedings with their running mates, except for Susilo who is in Mecca for a minor haj.

The National Awakening Party (PKB) which nominated Gus Dur, had requested that Panwaslu delay the entire process ahead of the July 5 election pending its lawsuit against the KPU, which it accuses of violating the Constitution by discriminating against handicapped citizens.

The Committee had also requested for a delay of Sunday's ceremony following a four-hour meeting earlier in the day, saying the KPU's decision on eligible candidates constituted an election dispute which the Committee was authorized to settle under the presidential election law.

Gus Dur, the former leader of the country's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, was disqualified for failing the mandatory health tests for presidential and vice presidential candidates.

Commission member Anas Urbaningrum insisted that the KPU's Saturday decision on the eligible candidates was final and binding given the verdicts of the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court, which upheld the KPU rules on health requirements.

The KPU also refers to the presidential election law, which states that its announcement of eligible candidates is final and binding.

Anas argued that it was impossible for the commission to postpone proceedings due to the tight schedule of the election.

"We have only three months between the legislative election on April 5 and the presidential election on July 5. A one-week delay would be another burden (for those handling) logistics distribution. Everything would be ruined," he said.

The eligible candidates were requested to confirm their correct names, titles and pictures to be printed on the ballot papers.

Megawati has now added the title Hajjah to her name, making it known that she has gone on the pilgrimage; Susilo's running mate, the former popular minister of social affairs Jusuf Kalla, recently added "Muhammad" as his first name, and Amien is now H.M. or Haj Muhammad Amien Rais.

Hamzah's running mate, former transportation Agum Gumelar, crossed out his title "Gen. (ret)" and changed it to H. Agum Gumelar MSc while Hamzah himself is officially DR.H. Hamzah Haz.