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)