DIGEST No. 10

NGOs want to monitor 1997 election

15 March, 1996

In previous years Indonesian non-government organisations (NGOs) have taken little notice of the national elections held every five years. Several prominent NGO figures such as Ali Sadikin openly state they deliberately spoiled their vote. But this time a coalition of NGOs is preparing a movement to monitor next year's elections, saying previous elections were dishonest.

The idea was discussed for some months in Bali and West Java last year. In mid-December an exploratory meeting was held in Cibogol, West Java. Efendi Saman of the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) in Bandung played a leading role. Other groups to turn up were LP3, close to the Islamic schools (pesantren), the established nationalist student group GMNI, and the radical student group Aldera.

On 15 January another meeting was held, in Bandung, with a larger number of NGOs. A representative from the Philippine independent monitoring body NAMFRELL, which played an important role in the election that brought down Marcos, was also present. This meeting adopted the name National Election Monitoring Committee (KNPP). Their email address is (was?) .

A few days later another meeting was held in Jakarta, at which the name Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP) was finally settled on. Other student groups to join at this meeting were the activists SMID and PRD, and the Catholics PMKRI. Former Tempo editor Goenawan Mohamad was elected chairman, while Mulyana Kusuma of LBH Jakarta became secretary-general. Gus Dur (Abdurrahman Wahid) had refused to be involved, saying the matter was 'very sensitive'. KIPP is talking about mobilizing half a million volunteers for the 1997 election.

Some surprising figures have come out in support of the idea. In mid-February, Harry Tjan Silalahi of the think-tank CSIS welcomed the idea of cooperation between the government and NGOs on the election. Dahlan Ranuwihardjo of the new intellectuals association YKPK - seen as an alternative to ICMI - also supported the idea. T Mulya Lubis of the Human Rights Study Centre early March said KIPP could make an equally favourable contribution to a democratic election in Indonesia as NAMFRELL and other monitoring bodies had done in the Philippines, and Pollwatch in Thailand. Leaders of the alternative political parties PPP and PDI also cautiously welcomed the idea.

The government, on the contrary, was quick to label KIPP 'unnecessary', or even 'illegal' and 'unconstitutional'. The new Armed Forces chief of social and political affairs Maj-Gen Syarwan Hamid, and his assistant Maj-Gen Suwarno Adiwijoyo a few days later, said mid-February independent monitoring was unnecessary since elections were an affair for the President. A Golkar spokesperson early March rejected the idea as unconstitutional. Defence Minister Edi Sudradjat also rejected it at this time. Meanwhile Army Chief of Staff Gen. Hartono on 13/3 made explicit what had till then been merely an open secret - that Abri will fully support Golkar in the coming election.

Official committees to supervise the elections (Panwaslak, including representative of Golkar, PPP and PDI) have already been formed in every province. In East Java the committee is incomplete because of the troubles in the PDI. Perhaps in response to KIPP publicity, a PO box has been announced where citizens can send their complaints (PO Box 6000, South Jakarta 12000).

NGO interest in this election, moreover 12 months ahead of time, should be interpreted not as a vote of confidence in the existing electoral system, but as an attempt to reclaim it for the people.

Gerry van Klinken, editor, 'Inside Indonesia' magazine.

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