Jakarta — The high political cost that has to be
borne by candidates to take part in the election of
regional heads (pilkada) is generating calls for the
accommodation of independent candidates. Regulations
allowing candidates from outside of the political
parties must be implemented across the board, not
just in Aceh.
This call was made by members of the Reform Struggle
Saviors Party (P2R) from various parts of the
country that attended the P3R’s All Indonesia
Regional Leadership Council (DPW) goodwill meeting
in Jakarta on Monday April 23.
The P3R failed to take part in the 2004 general
elections although it is still officially recognised
as a political party since being registered with the
Department of Justice and Human Rights in 2003.
DPW member Muhammad Nasir from the West Nusa
Tenggara chapter of P3R claimed that the fees for
being nominated by a political party in the election
of regional heads is massive. Whereas the legitimacy
of the political parties among the general public
continues to decline.
Because of this therefore, the presence of
independent candidates in the election of regional
heads around the country needs to be accommodated.
"Don’t just apply it in Aceh. The other regions are
no different from Aceh", said Nasir.
DPW member Badaruddin Utih from Lampung province in
Sumatra related how the exorbitant political fees
that must be handed over to become a candidate for a
political party means that only rich people can
participate in the election of regional heads.
Whereas it is uncertain whether they have any real
capabilities. “In the regions, smart people that
don’t have any money will not even be considered”,
said Utih.
Judicial review rejected
The government meanwhile has asked the
Constitutional Court to reject a request for a
judicial review of Law Number 32/2004 on Regional
Governments that was submitted by Lalu Ranggalawe, a
member of the Regional House of Representatives in
West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. The reason given
was that a similar judicial review was submitted in
2005.
This request was made in the government’s opening
statement that was read by Ramli Hutabarat, an
expert staff member from the Department of Justice
and Human Rights during a Constitutional Court
hearing in Jakarta on Monday. Because of this, the
request for a judicial review should not go ahead.
Ranggalawe has questioned the provisions in Law
Number 32/2004 that do not provide an opportunity or
the public space for independent candidates in the
election of regional heads. He also gave as an
example the victory of independent candidates in the
recent election of regional heads in Aceh which
demonstrated that the people need independent
candidates. (mzw/ana)
[Translated by James Balowski.]