What's the independent poll watchdog doing now?

What's the independent poll watchdog doing now?

By Yenni Kwok

JAKARTA (JP): Very often, the word "independent" means that
the Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP) has to work
underground as if it was an outlawed organization.

The unofficial poll watchdog has never been banned, but it has
been given the government cold shoulder since the day it was
founded on March 15, 1996.

The committee experienced a glimmer of hope when, in recent
months, the government allowed it to observe the general election
-- which was its primary goal. Even then, the boundary was well
set: in observing the poll, the committee must not disrupt the
election.

The committee said it tried to think positively about the
government stance toward the organization. "Our nonintervention
principle does not allow us to intervene and disrupt the election
process," said Mulyana W. Kusumah, secretary-general of the
organization.

This still does not mean the committee can hold open
activities. Earlier this month, for instance, an open training
program for recruited volunteers in Ujungpandang was dispersed by
local police. The chapter plans to sue the police over the
incident.

"We have to use guerrilla tactics," said Taufan, a staff
member in the committee's operations division. He conceded that
it is likely the underground movement will be given greater
attention to while they observe the election process.

Because of limited funding, the committee has to rely on
volunteers as its main human resource. So far, the biggest
turnout comes from the student community.

"They are more critical, and morally they feel more compelled
to do something to improve the system," said Tohap Simanungkalit,
member of the national presidium.

With the election just around the corner, its primary agenda
this month is to provide training and education sessions for
volunteers. KIPP plans to recruit 15,000 to 20,000 volunteers for
its 46 chapters across Indonesia and one in Berlin.

The training will be focused on eight "priority chapters,"
which are Jakarta, Malang in East Java, Denpasar in Bali,
Ujungpandang in South Sulawesi, Pematang Siantar in North
Sumatra, Bandar Lampung in Lampung and Semarang in Central Java.

Chaired by Goenawan Mohamad, the former editor of the defunct
Tempo newsweekly, the committee says it wishes to be involved
throughout the election process, registering voters up to ballot
counting.

During the campaign period, the committee's activists and
volunteers go to various campaign locations for firsthand
observations and case studies.

Invitation

When the May 29 election day finally arrives, KIPP plans to be
very near polling booths. This could prove to be a bit tricky,
however.

"We cannot go there flaunting KIPP symbols," Mulyana said.

There is an obvious discrimination in the way local and
foreign observers are being treated, Mulyana pointed out.

The government has said it was opening its arms to foreign
observers, if any applied, and allow them to visit polling
booths. No invitation has been extended to KIPP.

Thus, the committee will have to rely on observations by their
volunteers or activists who will be voting themselves. Another
option is to rely on undercover observers or local sources.

The committee said it wants to monitor the ballot counting as
well, but realizes it may not be possible. It plans, instead, to
solicit information from inside sources, and to make the 731 poll
booths in Yogyakarta a sample of its observation.

The committee hopes that its Yogyakarta volunteers, which
hopefully will reach between 300 to 500 in number, can access at
least half of the election booths in Yogyakarta.

"Using a parallel tabulation method, we will compare the
(Yogyakarta's KIPP ballot counting) result with the government's
result," Mulyana said.

That means that 210,000 voters in 14 districts in Yogyakarta
will be used as a sample to reflect 124 million voters in
Indonesia.

Also, because of limited access, the committee invites the
public to report to it any cheating or abuse during the election.

For the Jakarta chapter, however, people may have to wait.
Currently the committee is still hunting for an affordable new
home for its Jakarta and national office. For the time being, all
complaints and information can be addressed to Jakarta's Legal
Aid Institute (LBH).

The results of the committee's activities are planned to be
distributed via alternative media, such as campus magazines, the
unrecognized Independent Journalist Association newsletter, its
own bulletin called Awas (meaning "Watch Out") and its own
Internet mailing list.

"We hope to provide information to all, including the House of
Representatives. Other neighboring countries have enjoyed the
presence of independent poll watchdogs, such as Thailand's Poll
Watch or the Philippines' Namfrel. However, don't ever compare
them with KIPP," said Arbi Sanit, a political analyst from the
University of Indonesia who sits on KIPP's advisory board.

"They compete with the government's election supervision. They
even work with government support. With KIPP, our very presence
is under suspicion," Arbi said.

Despite lacking government backing, KIPP has enjoyed popular
public support. Thirty large non-government organizations,
including religious and youth organizations, support it. In
addition to students, public figures, such as lawyer Adnan Buyung
Nasution, labor activist HJC Princen and writer Mochtar Lubis,
joined in.

Sri Bintang Pamungkas, the leader of the unrecognized
Indonesian Unity Democratic Party (PUDI) facing subversion
charges, was also a member. He quit the committee after he
founded his party, to comply with KIPP's nonpartisan principle.

Even though its actions are limited, the organization still
keeps optimism and hope.

"No matter how small a contribution KIPP makes, it will still
help Indonesian democracy. It's better than nothing at all," said
Paskah Irianto, head of the operations division.

Mulyana added: "KIPP's target is not only this election, but
also future ones."