---------------------------------------------------------- Visit Indonesia Daily News Online HomePage: http://www.indo-news.com/ Please Visit Our Sponsor http://www.indo-news.com/cgi-bin/ads1 ---------------------------------------------------------- The Indonesian Observer, 27 July 1999 Small Parties Ignore The National Interests, Say Analysts JAKARTA (IO) - Several political analysts and observers have criticized the 27 small political parties which rejected the June 7 General Election result, saying that they have sacrificed the national interest in their own interests. The General Election Commission, (KPU), yesterday officially announced the final result of the election, but,from 48 political parties' representatives in the commission, 27 of them rejected the result because of various reasons. Most of them argued that the authorities did not take any measures against the big political parties which had violated the election regulations and law before, during and after the voting day. Those who made the criticism are an expert on constitutional law Professor Dr. Ismail Sunny, former KPU member Professor Harun Al Rasyid, and Deputy Chairman of the Central General Election Monitoring Body (Panwaslu) Todung Mulya Lubis, and KPU member Andi Mallarangeng. Sunny said that most of the 27 political parties did not get significant support from the people, as shown by the general election, where they only collected small number of votes. "Such an attitude shows that they have ignored the national interest," he stressed, adding that it is impossible to organize the perfect general election with such a short time for preparation. "In general, the general election is better than the previous ones," Sunny, who is also expert on constitutional law added. He, however, also said that the rejection of the general election's result has no further implication because the president has the right to officiate the result. "But, I warn the president not to foil the general election's result. The president should make coordinate with the Panwas before making the decision," he added. But Rasyid disagreed with Sunny that the president has the right to make a decision on the election result. According to Rasyid, Panwas should handle the problems as well as endorse it. But Rasyid agreed with Sunny that the rejection of election result by the political parties is based on their party's interests. "The rejection of the result by Rudini (KPU chairman), is based on the request of his political party," Rasyid added. But a KPU member from the National Mandate Party (PAN) Hasballah M. Saad criticized Rudini , who rejected the election result. "The rejection means that Rudini does not recognize his own work. It is very strange," he added. Mallarangeng criticized the KPU members who refuse to sign the election result, saying that the rejection shows the disappointment of the political elite because they are not supported by the people. "The political elite are not ready to accept the defeat although the people have made their own decision," he added. "There is no problem, although they reject the election results, because the political parties who have signed the result represent the parties which won more than 90% of the total votes," said Mallarangeng who represents the government in KPU. Rudini said that he will soon hand over the election result to President B.J. Habibie. "I will soon report it to the president," he said. But Todung said that he could not accept the KPU move to hand over the election result to the president saying that, "It is better if I resign from the Panwas if KPU hand over the election result to the president." According to Todung, it is the authority of Panwas to make the decision, not the president, because KPU members reject the election results due to the general election violations. Meanwhile, hundreds of youths and students yesterday staged a demonstration outside the KUP building , demanding that representatives from minor parties, who refused to sign off the final election results, resign from the commission. Around 400 activists from the Surakarta Muslim Youth Front arrived at the protest site at 10:00 a.m., protesting against those small parties that failed to obtain seats in the House of Representatives. The demonstrators urged the unsuccessful parties to quit KPU, so they would not hamper or disrupt the activities of the commission. The small parties have demanded that they be given parliamentary seats, otherwise they would not sign off the final election returns. The protesters said there were no reasons for the KPU to again postpone the much-awaited announcement of election results. The commission had delayed the endorsement of the vote count three times. Yesterday was its latest deadline for the announcement. The demonstrators wanted to meet with KPU Chairman Rudini, or his deputy Adnan Buyung Nasution, but their request was rejected. Meanwhile, Jakarta Police Chief ,Major General Nugroho Djayusman, who was seen at the scene to monitor the protest, yesterday threatened to take firm action against demonstrators if their rally disrupted order and security. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 28 Jul 1999 jam 07:55:30 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
