Universities form poll watchdog

Universities form poll watchdog

JAKARTA (JP): Fourteen private and state universities in the
country are banding together in an election watchdog to ensure
next year's poll is aboveboard.

The University Network For a Free and Fair Election (UNFREL)
will be officially launched on Saturday.

"Our vision is to create the new democratic Indonesia through
a fair and just election," Ani Sutjipto of the University of
Indonesia said on Friday during the inaugural meeting of the new
group.

So far, 14 of the 34 universities invited have already
confirmed their participation in the network, she said.

They include University of Indonesia, Trisakti and Atma Jaya
in Jakarta, Gadjah Mada (Yogyakarta), Airlangga and Sepuluh
November Institute of Technology (Surabaya), Hasanuddin
(Ujungpandang), Diponegoro (Semarang) and Andalas (Padang).

Although the election is not scheduled until June, the forum's
work will begin immediately in gathering data and monitoring the
deliberations of the political bills in the House of
Representatives.

The network will also launch a voter-education program through
its publications and workshops.

Leading student activist Rama Pratama of the University of
Indonesia said the establishment of UNFREL was part of the
ongoing students' struggle for political reforms.

"The reform movement belongs to students. No one can snatch it
away from them," said the former chairman of the university's
student senate.

Minister of Education and Culture Juwono Sudarsono gave his
blessing to UNFREL by turning up at the forum's inaugural
meeting.

"Please be very careful... You have to keep an objective and
clear view on the matter. This is a tough job to do," he said.
(edt)