Watchdog oversees election

Watchdog oversees election

PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan: Corruption Watchdog here stepped
up its monitoring of the upcoming election of the West Kalimantan
governor to avoid money politics.

Corruption Watchdog Gemawan branch chairman Hermawansyah, said
on Monday there was a high chance money politics would be
involved in the election, if the recent election of Pontianak's
mayor was anything to go by.

He said the money involved in selecting a regent or mayor
reached tens of million of rupiah, therefore the amount would be
higher at the provincial level.

The province will elect its governor and deputy governor for
2003 to 2008 on Dec. 12.

Hermawansyah acknowledged it would be a difficult fight as
Indonesia had no specific law to combat the practice. Even if the
law existed, he added, the government did not have the courage to
use it. -- Antara