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."