Three qualify for supervisory committee

Three qualify for supervisory committee

Arya Abhiseka, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The General Elections Commission (KPU) has been forced to add
nine new names to compete for the remaining three posts at the
general election supervisory committee after only three out of 22
candidates qualified.

KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti said on Monday the
commission would announce within the coming weeks the names of
all nine new candidates, which would consist of six public
figures and three academicians.

The KPU will look for prominent figures who are competent and
committed to the general election process to be in the
supervisory committee.

"There are so many qualified and available people out there
who are worthy to sit on the committee, but they seem to be
reluctant to register for the job.

"Therefore we decided to approach possible candidates as we
are concerned about the quality of the supervisory committee
members," said Ramlan.

The nine candidates will then be introduced for public
scrutiny before going through a fit and proper test to be
conducted by all nine members of the KPU.

Based on the fit and proper test on 22 selected candidates on
Thursday, only Topo Santoso, Rozy Munir and Didik Supriyanto were
deemed eligible.

The 22 names were chosen out of 517 people who voluntarily
registered for the supervisory committee.

However, criticism arose after most of the nominees were
considered lacking in quality and commitment to fill the election
supervisory duties.

After much pressure, the KPU had signaled last week that it
would consider adding more nominees should the candidates be
deemed unsuitable.

The supervisory committee is an independent body comprising
nine members that will monitor the entire process of the general
election including the ballot counting.

The KPU expects the National Police to appoint two members,
while the Attorney General's Office will appoint one member to
sit on the committee.

Indonesia will witness the country's first ever direct
election involving some 130 million voters when the legislative
election falls on April 5, 2004 followed by the presidential
election to be held between June and August.