Regional KPU members to face screening soon

Arya Abhiseka and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

All but one province has set up an independent committee to screen members for the regional elections commissions (KPUDs), General Elections Commission (KPU) deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti said on Thursday.

The independent teams are expected to submit ten names to KPU as KPUD member candidates. The KPU will then conduct interviews to elect five members for each KPUD.

Ramlan said the KPU would only be lenient with the conflict- torn province of Aceh if it does not meet the deadline to complete the establishment of an independent team to screen KPUD member candidates.

"We all know of the conflict in Aceh. Taking that fact into account, we'll allow more time for them to prepare for the election there," Ramlan told The Jakarta Post Thursday.

Each KPUD will comprise five members, none of whom can be members of any political party in a bid to ensure neutrality.

The KPU had planned to inaugurate the members of the provincial KPUDs by May 23 and regental KPUDs by June 13.

The main duty for each will be to verify the presence of political parties' regional chapters in order to determine their eligibility for the 2004 general election.

According to the political party law, each party must have chapters in 50 percent of provinces, regencies and municipalities nationwide.

Ramlan also reiterated that the KPU favored separate elections for legislative seats and the presidential post.

Holding presidential and legislative elections simultaneously would create a great burden on the KPU.

"We will, however, accept whatever decision the lawmakers make," Ramlan said before members of a House Special Committee deliberating the presidential election bill.

Factions in the House are still divided on this issue. The United Development faction (FPP), Reform, Crescent Star (FBB), and Indonesian Nationhood (KKI) factions want a simultaneous election.

Whereas Golkar, the National Awakening Party (PKB), military/police and Daulatul Ummah Party (PDU) factions were against simultaneous elections.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) is still undecided.

The ministry of home affairs, which will draft the presidential election bill, expects that the election of legislative members will be held earlier than the election of president and vice president.

The bill allows only political parties or coalitions winning at least 20 percent of House seats to nominate presidential candidates.

During the hearing presided over by committee vice chairman Ferry Mursyidan Baldan, KPU refused to discuss some hot issues including the quota and proposition of debate for presidential candidates. "This will adversely affect our independence," KPU chairman Nazaruddin Syamsudin said.