Students demand poll result announcements be postponed

JAKARTA (JP): The announcement of the official final results of the general election should be delayed until a guarantee can be obtained that all reported claims of poll violations will be settled, a leading student group says.

The Association of Islamic Students said on Friday that although in general the poll ran smoothly with only minor glitches, "we cannot turn away from the fact that in a number of volatile areas and other places the voting process is not yet completed."

Only 2 percent of eligible voters turned up in Aceh, and poll watch networks have urged the General Elections Commission to delay planned voting extension days, particularly in the trouble- prone regencies of Pidie, North and East Aceh.

In Irian Jaya, many necessary documents had not been received by balloting day and it would have taken days to transport them to remote polling places.

Despite continuing reports of glitches and demands to repeat the polls in various regencies and provinces, national poll officials have voiced optimism they can meet the June 21 deadline for the announcement of the final results at the National Elections Committee (PPI) office.

"A timetable is important," HMI said in a statement, "but it would be unwise if, for the sake of a calender, the PPI turns a blind eye to the facts on the ground." A delay would be wiser rather than risk political calamity later, HMI said.

HMI also charged there were political parties which had violated their agreements to share extra votes with other parties through attempts of vote buying.

HMI did not name names, but only said "ballots sold by party elites to another party... clearly insults the trust and sincerity of those who cast their ballots."

The association has urged anyone who felt disadvantaged by political parties during the elections to sue the parties involved through a class action suit.

HMI stated the courts and the Election Supervisory Committee should be more aggressive in responding to reports of violations. Other poll watchers have also criticized what they claim is a lack of action on the part of the official supervisory body. (anr)