The opportunity for Indonesians to vote for candidates of their

The opportunity for Indonesians to vote for candidates of their choice in the 2004 presidential election is under threat, as the two largest factions in the House of Representatives have sought to limit the number of parties participating in the election.

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the largest faction, and Golkar, second-largest, have submitted separately suggestions to the House special commission currently deliberating the presidential elections bill.

PDI Perjuangan, headed by President Megawati Soekarnoputri, has suggested that only parties and coalitions that garner 20 percent or more of legislature seats may field candidates in the first-ever direct presidential election in 2004. If endorsed, there will be five presidential candidates at the most in 2004.

Golkar, on the other hand, has proposed that only parties that win 35 percent or more of legislature seats can nominate candidates. This means there would be only two presidential candidates contesting the election.

PDI Perjuangan has 153 seats, or almost 34 percent of the 500- member House, while Golkar has 120, or 24 percent of House seats. The TNI/police faction, which has 38 members, has thrown its support behind PDI Perjuangan.

Other large political parties -- the National Awakening Party (PKB), United Development Party (PPP) and National Mandate Party (PAN) -- have also submitted suggestions and called for the scrapping of any limitation.

The bill, drafted by the Ministry of Home Affairs, states that only parties, or coalitions of parties, winning 20 percent of the votes in the legislative election, should be allowed to run for the presidency.

Some small political parties have opposed the limitation, accusing PDI Perjuangan and Golkar of trying to strengthen their grip on power by shutting out other political parties.

Agun Gunandjar Sudarsa of Golkar defended the limitation, saying that the move did not necessarily amount to a restriction on the rights of political parties.

Agun added that the stricter limitation would prompt political parties to form coalitions.

The list of suggestions submitted by political parties also deals with academic requirements for presidential candidates.

All but PDI Perjuangan proposed that presidential candidates should be university graduates. PDI Perjuangan, on the other hand, suggested that a senior high school graduate could run for the country's top post. PDI Perjuangan chairwoman, Megawati, does not have a university degree.

The Golkar faction, meanwhile, rejected a stipulation in the bill that a criminal suspect or convict in a crime that carried a jail sentence of more than five years should not be allowed to contest the presidential election.

2. 1 x 3 col 35 pts 'Law hampers press freedom'

Press Council vice chairman R.H. Siregar says loopholes in press law No. 40/1999 hamper freedom of the press in Indonesia by treating journalists as criminals.

Speaking at a discussion on freedom of the press here on Thursday, Siregar said that Article 12 of the law stated that, in some cases, journalists and members of the media could be processed according to the Criminal Code.

"It is better to fine or ban journalists who are suspected of violating the law from reporting, rather than imprisoning them."

The recent case involving Tempo magazine and businessman Tommy Winata has led Tempo's Bambang Harymurti and Ahmad Taufik to be charged under Article 310 of the Criminal Code on defamation and Article 311 on libel, which carry maximum punishments of nine months and four years in prison, respectively.

Police also stated earlier this month that both had violated Article 5(1) of the press law on the media's obligation to respect religious norms and public decency, as well as to adhere to the principle of presumption of innocence. The article carries a maximum fine of Rp 500 million (US$56,179).

Siregar questioned the term "presumption of innocence". "What does it really mean? There is no explanation in the law to define that abstract term."

He also said that besides the press law, the state, society and journalists themselves could hamper press freedom.

3. 2 x 3 col, 36 pts UNDP pledges to raise $30m for 2004 elections

The international community has renewed its commitment to ensuring democratic elections in Indonesia, with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) agreeing on Friday to raise some US$30 million in grants from donors to help the cash- strapped government hold elections in 2004.

The funds will be channeled into the state budget before being disbursed to the General Elections Commission (KPU), which is organizing the elections.

"There are about five to six institutions that have pledged their commitment to helping fund the general election.

"However, only the European Community is willing to be identified as one of the donors," said Bo Asplund, the UNDP's country representative.

The election law stipulates that the 2004 general election must be funded by the state and regional budgets only. However, the government and the KPU have said that any foreign aid would be legal as long as it was channeled through the state budget.

Asplund said the UNDP was currently awaiting donors' recommendations before disbursing the funds.

KPU chairman Nazaruddin Sjamsuddin, meanwhile, told reporters that the commission had budgeted some Rp 3.82 trillion (US$429 million) for the elections. Of this amount, Rp 3.023 trillion will be used for the general election on April 5 and Rp 800 billion for the two-phased presidential election sometime the following June and August.

"We gladly welcome the commitment shown by the UNDP in contributing to our process of democracy," he said.

4. 2 x 3 col 36 pts UN team should visit Iraq before deciding on sanctions

Indonesia has urged the United Nations weapons inspection team to visit Iraq prior to the UN Security Council (UNSC) decision on whether or not to lift the long-standing economic sanctions imposed on the country.

Spokesman for the foreign ministry Marty Natalegawa said on Thursday that Indonesia was concerned about the humanitarian problems that have resulted from the sanctions that have been in place for over a decade, but stressed that its removal be determined through established UN procedures.

"The existence of weapons of mass destruction was the pretext of the sanctions and the U.S.-led attack, so this should be verified first before the UNSC makes any decisions regarding the sanction," Marty told The Jakarta Post.

"We are not ignorant of the sufferings of the Iraqi people, but because of recent events, UN procedures should be adhered to regarding the sanctions."

Indonesia was among the staunchest opponents of the U.S.-led attack on Iraq, calling it an act of aggression and a violation of international law.

Fresh from its victory in Iraq, the U.S., in its capacity as a permanent member of the UNSC, asked the world body to lift the economic sanctions on Baghdad.

Russia and China, also permanent members of the UNSC, have rejected the request, saying that the UN weapons inspection team should first determine the existence of weapons of mass destruction beforehand.

The U.S. has rejected the involvement of the UN inspection team, and has instead established its own verification team to prove the presence of weapons of mass destruction.

Some suspect that lifting the economic sanctions now would only benefit the U.S., which has established a postwar interim administration in Iraq.

Marty underlined that such a unilateral inspection team was inadequate for providing the information upon which the UNSC would base its decision regarding the sanctions.

5. 1 x 3 col, 28 pts U.S. domination needs counterbalance: Analysts

Indonesia needs to strengthen its cooperation with countries in Asia and other regions following the United States' victory in the Iraq war, observers assert.

Noted Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid and foreign affairs analyst Jusuf Wanandi said on Thursday the post-war period would see U.S. domination in international politics and that concerted efforts are needed to counterbalance it.

"A counterbalance is required, not because we consider the Americans an evil power, but because it is important for the world to have a check-and-balance," Nurcholish said at a seminar held in conjunction with the 29th anniversary of Pelita daily.

He suggested that Indonesia work together with Asian countries, European countries and other regional organizations to form a balancing power.

"Just as in domestic politics, a single power dominating global politics will be unfavorable in the future," Nurcholish remarked.

Jusuf, from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), also warned of Washington's growing dominance in the region after the Iraq war.

The imminent problem in North Korea will open up an opportunity for the U.S. to further seize power in Asia, said Jusuf, which had to be avoided.

"We should not just sit down and let the U.S.' plan materialize. We have to strengthen our cooperation with as many countries as possible to counter the move," Jusuf said.

The anxiety of possible U.S. hegemony in the world has emerged in many countries, as Washington had ignored the United Nations before it attacked Iraq and has continued to take the leading role in postwar Iraq.

Analysts have warned that the war in Iraq has set a precedent for other unilateral, preemptive attacks by the U.S. on other countries, with the world left sidelined.

Many countries have expressed concern regarding the nuclear crisis in North Korea, which could be the U.S.' next target after Iraq.