Reports on money politics probed

Reports on money politics probed

JAKARTA (JP): A special team of the Election Supervisory
Committee has begun investigating alleged practices of "money
politics" by political parties in response to reports, committee
deputy chairman Todung Mulya Lubis said Tuesday.

The alleged parties reported, among others, by the Urban Poor
Consortium were the People's Sovereignty Party (PDR) and Golkar
Party. "We have to admit that the committee is facing
difficulties in proving the allegations, despite helpful data
from UPC," Todung said.

UPC coordinator Wardah Hafidz strived to submit the group's
data to the Attorney General's Office and the committee on
Monday.

The attorney general staff turned her down and Wardah was
disappointed when told the committee could only submit
recommendations after providing evidence of alleged violations of
election rules.

"It is the Supreme Court which has the authority to impose
sanctions towards parties if proven guilty in money politics,"
Todung said.

Separately, Wardah said political parties with access to
government funds tend to abuse them.

"This is a habit of the New Order regime that must be removed
if we want to have a new, democratic Indonesia," Wardah, a
sociologist, told a discussion held by the Ansor youth
organization of the Muslim Nahdlatul Ulama organization.

Wardah denied allegations that the consortium is linked to
former Armed Forces chief Gen.(ret) L.B. Moerdani and was a
foreign agent.

Meanwhile, PDR reported Wardah to the police Tuesday for
defamation and slander. The maximum penalties are one year and
four years respectively.

The party's lawyer Ahmad P. Pulungan said Wardah accused the
party of abusing funds worth Rp 6.4 trillion (US$800 million)
from the social safety net program and the farmer scheme credit.

"We respect Wardah for trying to conduct social control. But
the way she did it has damaged our party's name," Pulungan said
at the city police headquarters. He added Wardah had ignored
their written warning.

The party's public relations officer, Taufiqulhadi, said
Wardah broke an agreement with PDR by continuing to talk to the
media. He said Wardah's lawyer Hendardi agreed to temporarily
stop talking to the media until the matter was cleared with the
party. But PDR would drop charges if Wardah withdrew her
statements, he said.

Separately in Yogyakarta, secretary-general of PDR Jumhur
Hidayat accused Wardah as part of a high-level conspiracy to
obstruct the people-oriented economy program. (40/edt/jun/swa)