Students demand poll result announcements be postponed

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)