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)