Voter registration period extended

Voter registration period extended

JAKARTA (JP): An extension of the voter registration period to
May 15 was announced on Tuesday by chairman of the General
Elections Commission (KPU) Rudini.

He said the arrangement was not the result of ambitions to
meet certain targets.

"The decision was made basically because the KPU feels
responsible for people who wish to join the elections but are
hindered by technical difficulties and security disturbances,
such as residents in Aceh, East Timor, Irian Jaya, Maluku or
Indonesians living abroad."

Rudini said it was agreed that Subcommission A for Budgeting,
together with other subcommissions, would issue a decree on the
audit of party campaign funds before the June 7 poll.

He said there would be 250,074 polling stations.

"We will also provide nails with which voters punch the ballot
paper on pads, just like in the previous elections."

KPU has decided to exempt two Cabinet members --
Minister/State Secretary Akbar Tandjung, who is the Golkar Party
chairman, and Minister of Investment Hamzah Haz, the chairman of
the United Development Party (PPP) -- from its own ruling that
"political parties must forbid their government official members
from campaigning".

In a bid to determine whether it is possible to run the poll
on time in the troubled province of Aceh, Rudini said KPU members
would visit the area on Thursday.

"We will meet with community leaders, polling committees and
government officials, as well as security authorities to discuss
the deteriorating condition there," Hasballah M. Saad, KPU member
of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and also secretary-general of
the Aceh Commission of Human Rights, said.

Hasballah said KPU would strive to hold the polls on time.

"But we need a guarantee from security forces that everybody
who wants to vote will be protected, at least physically."

Results of the Thursday meeting will be submitted to President
B.J. Habibie for consideration on whether the province will be
able to participate in the polls.

Hasballah said the Acehnese were in a difficult position.

"If the security forces protect groups of people (who wish to
vote), other groups (who are against the elections) may accuse
them of being traitors. If they are not protected, the people
will also be intimidated by extremists. It's horrible."

Intimidation and violence against residents who wish to
register in the polls has reportedly occurred in Pidie and North
Aceh.

"What is the use of having a poll in Aceh if it means losing
many more lives? I'd say stop using violence to manage Aceh.

"To some extent, despite the conflicts, I believe the poll can
still be held in Aceh. As long as there are participants, no
matter how few, we will have votes from Aceh," Hasballah said.

Up to April 30, KPU reported 39.65 percent of the total
2,315,244 eligible voters in Aceh had registered.

Disabled rights

Two advocacy groups visited the KPU offices on Tuesday,
petitioning the commission to help people with disabilities
participate in the polls. They were the Independent Election
Monitoring Committee (KIPP) and the group Indonesian Advocacy for
the Disabled.

"We made suggestions on practical matters, such as the size of
polling booths. More space is needed for people in wheel chairs,"
KIPP secretary-general Mulyana W. Kusumah said.

He said a neutral assistant was needed to assist blind voters
punch the ballot paper.

"KPU will discuss the possibility of the disabled being
assisted by two neutral assistants during voting," Afan Gaffar, a
government representative in KPU, said.

Later in the day, some 60 students calling themselves the
Indonesian People's Front staged a protest in front of the KPU
office, demanding Golkar be dissolved.

After singing songs mocking Golkar, five student
representatives eventually met with Rudini. Dozens of others
occupied the KPU's plenary hall, singing patriotic songs.

Golkar representative in the KPU, Mahadi Sinambela, who was
having lunch in the hall when the students arrived, appeared
bewildered.

"Well, let me finish my lunch then," Mahadi said to the
gawking students. As more students arrived, he got up and left.
"Better to stay away than get bruises," he said.

The student group eventually dispersed at about 3 p.m..

Separately, in Yogyakarta, members of political parties signed
personal safety insurance policies.

AJB Bumi Putera insurance company staff member Erna, told
Antara that party members preferred to sign up for three to one-
year insurance policies. (44/rms/edt)