Supreme Court initiatives vital for free polls

Supreme Court initiatives vital for free polls

JAKARTA (JP): A poll monitoring body urged the Supreme Court
on Monday to take the initiative to secure a free and fair
general election.

The Independent Poll Monitoring Commission (KIPP) said in its
recent report on election developments that the Supreme Court
should give its legal ruling on alleged violations to the
Elections Law and Political Party Law.

"The Supreme Court is supposed to carry out these functions,
as part of its position as chief supervisor of the elections,"
said the statement signed by KIPP secretary-general Mulyana W.
Kusumah.

The Political Party Law grants the Supreme Court the authority
to ban parties found guilty of violating the law.

KIPP suggested in its statement that the Supreme Court start
its supervisory function by gauging political stance and beliefs
of each party contesting the June 7 elections.

A political party violates the law if it fails to recognize
the state ideology Pancasila, accept all citizens who have the
right to vote, threatens national unity, promotes communism or
gives or receives foreign aid at the country's expense, among
other things.

In its report, KIPP also criticized the General Elections
Commission (KPU) for wasting time.

"KPU has failed to set priorities and also takes up too much
time in deciding simple matters. This is not effective because we
are only 70 days away from the elections," Mulyana said.

Mulyana was referring to a series of disputes involving the
KPU, poll contestants and the government. The latest controversy
concerns whether Cabinet ministers should be allowed to campaign
for their parties.

Mulyana said that, considering the limited time available, KPU
needs to focus on crucial matters such as voter registration, the
formation of election committees at lower administrative levels
and the selection process for legislators.

"We cannot accept any further delays... People need to be
encouraged to join the polls as soon as possible," he said.

In the past, voter turnout could pass 90 percent, due to mass
mobilization by the government, but this year's figure is
expected to be lower because of the voluntary registration
system.

KIPP estimated a total of 130 million eligible voters this
year, 5 percent of which are first time voters.

Concerning the requirement that a prospective voter must hold
an ID card to exercise his or her right to vote, KIPP said this
was a distortion of the facts that many people had come to
believe.

"Voters can use their driving licenses, marriage certificates
and other forms of ID to register," Mulyana said. "All related
parties involved in the polling must make this known to the
public."

Separately, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
announced on Monday it would start disbursing the first chunk of
its financial aid, worth US$2 million, to the three leading poll
monitoring networks this week.

The three groups are the Independent Election Monitoring
Committee (KIPP), the University Network for Free and Fair
Elections (Unfrel), and the Rectors Forum. All three bodies have
lodged complaints with UNDP over the delayed disbursement of the
funds, which they said obstructed their activities.

"We understand their anxiety, as we are running against time
here. We do not wish to delay the commitment," G. Ravi Rajan, the
resident coordinator of UN Operational Activities in Indonesia,
told a media conference.

A total grant of $80 million has been pledged by international
donors to be used by UNDP to assist the election process in
Indonesia, 60 percent of which is earmarked for electoral
management, mainly the activities of KPU.

The 16 donor countries include Japan, United States,
Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea,
Norway and members of European Union. (edt)