Sulawesi, Kalimantan poll outcome disputed

Sulawesi, Kalimantan poll outcome disputed

JAKARTA (JP): Hopes for a general election free of electoral violations are being dashed as opposition parties in many regencies reject poll results, alleging government officials helped the Golkar Party.

In Southeast, South and Central Sulawesi, the dissatisfied parties have demanded a repeat of the polls, while in other provinces a unified push from all parties concerned for a similar measure to be taken is yet to be made.

In South Sulawesi, demands to invalidate the poll results have come from six regencies: Gowa, Bulukumba, Bantaeng, Jeneponto, Luwu and North Luwu. In Jeneponto, the local Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP) also insisted on a repeat of the polls.

Golkar has so far topped the vote in South, Southeast and Central Sulawesi.

Similar objections came from 26 political parties in South Kalimantan. In West Sumatra, the Murba Party was fighting a lone battle against Golkar's alleged money politics.

Reports of alleged serious breaches of electoral laws have continued to flow in amid a steady stream of praise from foreign observers for the landmark polls lauded as "free and fair". But local observers have warned the praise may be premature.

A.M. Ridwan AR, deputy chief of the South Sulawesi provincial elections committee, said on Thursday elections in the province could be repeated if the allegations were verified.

"If the allegations are proven, there is no reason to refuse the dissatisfied political parties' demand for a repeat of the polls," he said.

Ridwan said that in Luwu and North Luwu complaints over alleged irregularities were filed by 29 political parties, including the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the National Awakening Party (PKB), the United Development Party (PPP) and the National Mandate Party (PAN).

Moh. Askin, spokesman for the South Sulawesi PAN chapter, claimed that Golkar and government officials in almost all regencies had violated rules in an attempt to win the June 7 polls.

"We reject the polls, because in a PAN stronghold Golkar officials and regents intimidated people so they would not vote for PAN," he said.

He said Golkar officials were also involved in vote buying and intimidation of KIPP and Rectors Forum poll watchers.

Another PAN activist, Kahar Mustari, said that in Bangkeng Bongko village, a police sergeant fired three shots into the air on the night of June 6 to remind people to choose Golkar. At about the same time, village officials distributed rice to residents.

Faisal Abdullah, deputy chairman of the South Sulawesi elections committee said the polls could be repeated only in places where vote buying was widespread.

In Southeast Sulawesi, 20 political parties have agreed to reject the elections on the grounds that local government officials used their authority to help the Golkar Party, which commands an easy lead in the area.

In Central Sulawesi, 25 political parties have joined forces demanding a repeat of the polls in Banggai regency, where they alleged Golkar was involved in vote buying.

Spokesman for the parties, Baharuddin Tjatjo, said on Thursday Golkar officials offered up to Rp 400,000 to mosques and Rp 200,000 to churches. He alleged that in some villages the officials distributed money in envelopes with a message enclosed which read: "My choice is No. 33 (Golkar)".

Chairman of Banggai Golkar chapter Djar'un Sibay denied the party had bought votes. He said the money given to places of worship were private donations from Murad Hussain, a local Golkar executive and businessman. He said the alleged envelope vote buying did not occur.

In Southeast Sulawesi, an alliance of 20 political parties have agreed to refuse the validity of the polls in Muna regency. They said government officials had worked hard to help Golkar win the elections.

PDI Perjuangan, one of the 20 parties alleging poll discrepancies in the area, also rejected the polls in Kendari mayoralty and Buton and Kolaka.

Chairman of the Southeast Sulawesi PDI Perjuangan chapter La Ode Sirat Imbo told Antara the June 7 elections were not free and fair at all, because Golkar had engaged in money politics.

Officials of the 20 parties have agreed to reject the poll result, but they were yet to decide on a plan of action, because some of the group rejected the idea of seeking a repeat of the voting process.

As its officials elsewhere do, a Golkar spokesman denied the charges. Secretary of the local Golkar chapter La Ode Palaido refuted the claims, saying no government agencies were involved in illegal activities relating to the polls.

In South Kalimantan, 26 political parties in Hulusungai Utara regency demanded the local election supervisory committee punish Golkar for buying votes, saying they would otherwise reject the polls.

Spokesman for the party Herry Novian said on Thursday a strong warning which the committee had issued against Golkar Party was "not enough".

The dispute originated several months before the elections, after Golkar distributed pro-Golkar circulars to local village officials throughout the regency.

Hulusungai Utara Regent Suhailin Muchtar fired five village chiefs ahead of the elections, following the parties' demand that Golkar be banned from the polls.

Local Golkar chief Anang Ardiansyah said the 26 parties' demand for further action was "too much", because Golkar had revoked the circulars as soon as it received the warning from the election supervisory committee.

As of Thursday afternoon, the provisional vote tally showed that Golkar was in second place with 26,957 votes, behind PPP which had 37,088 votes. (30/38/27/pan)