Yogie blasts 'white group' irresponsible citizens

Yogie blasts 'white group' irresponsible citizens

BEKASI (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. waded
into the increasingly acrimonious debate on people who refuse to
exercise their right to vote yesterday, blasting them
irresponsible citizens.

Yogie, who also chairs the General Elections Institute, warned
the public against groups who tried to persuade people not to
vote during the May 29 poll.

"Don't follow the wrong people. Follow the government. Those
who do not vote are irresponsible," Yogie asserted. However, he
did not say anything about the legal consequences people might
face for refusing to vote.

Yogie was making his remarks after swearing in Kaliani A.R. as
the acting mayor of Bekasi in West Java, 30 kilometers east of
Jakarta.

Sacked legislator Sri Bintang Pamungkas, currently being
detained by the Attorney General's Office, is facing subversion
charges for allegedly encouraging people not to vote through Idul
Fitri greetings cards sent to, among others, legislators and high
ranking officials.

The Bishops Council of Indonesia said in a rare pre-Easter
message last month that Catholics would not be sinning if they
did not vote. A number of Catholics contacted by The Jakarta Post
welcomed the message, saying it boosted their confidence to
exercise their rights.

But Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar Anas said
in a gathering held by the South Sulawesi Families for Harmony on
Sunday that antigeneral election groups are big sinners.

A Moslem group has also declared that not voting would be
sinful.

The 1985 general election law says that casting a vote is a
citizen's right, not an obligation. It does not regulate legal
sanctions against those who do not exercise the right.

Over the weekend Southeast Sulawesi Governor La Ode Kaimoeddin
hinted that teachers who refused to vote might be fired, saying
that their negative attitude would influence their students.

Analysts predict that the percentage of non-voters, better
known as Golput (literally the "white group"), will increase this
year. A poll conducted by the Indonesian National Youth Committee
in Malang, East Java, revealed that about 85 percent of youths in
the region will abstain from voting in the coming election. (amd)