W. Java military warns poll watchdog

W. Java military warns poll watchdog

JAKARTA (JP): Military authorities in West Java will ban the newly formed Independent Election Monitoring Committee from operating in its province if it interferes with the workings of the official state committee.

Maj. Gen. Tayo Tarmadi, chief of the Siliwangi Regional Military Command that oversees security in West Java, warned on Saturday that the independent body must not act in "opposition" to the government.

"We will definitely ban it if it acts as a rival of the official election supervision committee because it could create disorder," he said as quoted by Antara.

Tayo said the authorities will tolerate the independent poll watchdog if it limits its activities to providing the government with input on the proceedings of next year's election.

"We welcome any input on the proceedings at all administrative levels given to the official committee," he said.

The independent watchdog was formed on March 15 by a group of about 50 senior statesmen, lawyers, journalists, intellectuals and activists to monitor the 1997 general elections.

Chaired by Goenawan Mohamad -- former editor of Tempo magazine, which the government closed down in 1994 -- the committee was set up in defiance of top military officials who alleged that it was "unconstitutional".

It has gained support from the two minority parties, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI). The ruling Golkar party and the government have also called it unconstitutional.

Goenawan said the committee will recruit and train volunteers to help monitor the election, prepare reports for the public, organize discussions and conduct research.

The independent committee plans to cooperate with similar bodies already established in major cities such as Yogyakarta, Jakarta, Bandung, Banda Aceh, Bandar Lampung, Ujungpandang, Manado and Surakarta. (rms)