Regional direct elections may go ahead despite problems

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

With the country's first direct local leadership election ever taking place on Wednesday, the government has identified 23 regions that face obstacles in holding such elections, ranging from disputed candidacies to internal rifts in political parties.

Minister of Home Affairs M. Ma'ruf also revealed that financial constraints could play havoc with the elections, leading him to urge national lawmakers to approve the disbursement of Rp 344 billion next week to assist the regions in holding the elections.

"Our information shows that at least 23 regions are still facing problems, including the duplication of party executive boards that has led to rival camps nominating their own candidates. Also, challenges against the screening of candidates by Local General Elections Commissions (KPUD) has in some cases sparked violence," Ma'ruf told a press conference on Monday.

The ministry said that internal rifts in political parties contesting the elections had taken place in Banyuwangi (East Java), South Tapanuli (South Sumatra), Gowa (South Sulawesi), Rejang Lebong (West Java), Asahan (South Sumatra), West Halmahera (North Maluku), Eastern Seram (Maluku), Indragiri Hulu (South Sumatra) and Solok (West Sumatra).

Disputes over the eligibility of candidates had occurred in Tanah Toraja (South Sulawesi), Sula (North Maluku), Bima (West Nusa Tenggara) and Kebumen (Central Java), according to information supplied by the ministry.

"We hope the problems can be solved quickly so that we can press ahead with the elections," Ma'ruf added.

The elections for governors, regents and mayors across the country, he said, had to proceed as this was what the public wanted. Voter turnout would be at least 80 percent, he predicted.

The election for the regent of Kutai Kartanegara in East Kalimantan on Wednesday will mark the start of a hectic series of elections around the country that will last for the rest of the year.

A total of 186 local administrations, including seven provinces, will hold elections in June, while 40 regions will follow suit between July and December.

Regarding the election in Poso regency, which has just been rocked by deadly bomb attacks, Ma'ruf said "the show must go on".

"The local election commission has so far not requested a postponement of the regental election," Ma'ruf said. The poll is set for June 30.

The ministry's director general for local government finance Daeng M. Nazier said the Ministry of Finance had approved an allocation of Rp 344.3 billion from the state budget out of the Rp 744 billion proposed by the home ministry for the regions that were holding local elections.

The Ministry of Home Affairs had also requested Rp 142 billion in operational funds, but the Ministry of Finance provided only about Rp 20 billion.

"We hope the House of Representatives will endorse the disbursement of the funds next week so that we can immediately calculate how much each region will receive," Daeng said.