Youth groups call for probe into money politics

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Youth Committee (KNPI), representing 65 youth organizations nationwide, urged the government on Thursday to look into alleged money politics in recent elections of regents and mayors in a number of provinces.

The committee chairman Adhyaksa said he had received numerous reports of illicit practices, including the most recent mayoral election in North Sumatra and a regent in Central Sulawesi.

"The home affairs minister should not recognize any regent or mayor who used money to win election. Such practices are harmful to democracy," he said.

He suggested that major political parties take measures against their representatives involved in the practice, particularly in those two provinces.

"In the case of the recent Medan mayoral election, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) should punish legislators for accepting bribes," he said.

The party executives have suspended 16 councilors representing it at the Medan legislature after they admitted accepting bribes from the eventual winner of the mayoral election.

Adhyaksa warned against the practice of businessmen supporting regent and mayoral candidates for their own selfish interests.

"Troubled regents and mayors will spend lots of money during their tenure because of sponsorships they receive from businessmen. Regional autonomy is not aimed at protecting businessmen's interests but at improving local people's social welfare," he said.

He said KNPI threw its weight behind the suggestion of direct election of governors, regents and mayors in the future because the current indirect democratic system could be manipulated.

"We will support the idea that was recently proposed by the government and PDI Perjuangan to directly elect the president and vice president and local officials in the next general election to avoid money politics," he said.

He said most people have been politically mature in electing their national leaders and the political elites should heed people's demands.

"The direct election of the president and vice president can't be conducted mainly because our political elites are not well prepared," he said.

President Abdurrahman Wahid and PDI Perjuangan Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri have recently proposed a direct presidential and vice presidential election to allow a political party winning the general election to form the new government.

Adhyaksa that KNPI proposed a direct presidential and vice presidential election in the 1977 general election but met opposition from many sides, including legislative bodies.

He said political parties should promote the concept of direct presidential elections to their cadres, so that it could be implemented in the 2004 general election. (rms)