Waiting for parties which are not burdensome

The 2004 general elections bring the people hope and anxieties -- hope because for the first time, the people themselves will elect the president, vice president, and members of the House of Representatives (DPR), provincial legislative assemblies (DPRD) and Regional Representative Council (DPD).

The general elections will be participated in by some 140 million people and will cost at least Rp 6.4 trillion.

The upcoming elections also bring anxieties, as we have never held this kind of elections before, and only two years were allotted to prepare for the big event.

The National Election Commission (KPU) announced yesterday (Tuesday) that 12 political parties have passed screening after undergoing factual verification.

KPU chairman, Nazaruddin Sjamsuddin, said his commission will announce the result of further factual verification (of other parties) on Dec 7.

We should have a fair stance on the result of the KPU's work. We hope that parties which fail in the screening would be wise enough to accept the KPU's decision.

These unsuccessful parties could burden the people. And we of course, do not want any political party which will only be a burden to the people.

-- Media Indonesia, Jakarta