Damar Harsanto and Moch. N. Kurniawan, Jakarta – Thirty-four political parties filed a complaint with the Jakarta Police on Wednesday against members of the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights' party verification team, alleging that they accepted bribes during party screening.
Speaking on behalf of the 34 parties, Agus Miftach of the Indonesian People's Unity Party (PPRI) said the complaint was made based on a report on Metro TV alleging that ministry officials Cahyo and Wicipto had received money from political parties during the party screening.
"We demand that the Jakarta Police summon and scrutinize the two officials as this is related to the elections and concerns the entire nation. This case could pose a serious threat to the legality of the 2004 elections," Agus said.
He said the 34 parties, including 12 parties that passed the screening, had included Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra and the head of party verification team, Ramli Hutabarat, in their complaint to the police.
Besides filing a report with the police, Agus also called on the General Elections Commission (KPU) to halt the screening of political parties until the legal dispute was resolved.
The Indonesian Nationalist Alliance Party (PANI), the Reform Party, the Marhaen National Party, the People Opposition Party (Popor), the Gotong Royong Party and the People Benefit Party were among the political parties that filed the complaint with the police.
The justice ministry announced last Saturday only 32 of 66 political parties in the third and final qualified as legitimate political parties. Those that failed to qualify are not allowed to contest the 2004 legislative elections.
Indonesia is scheduled to hold legislative elections in April, and a two-phased direct presidential elections in July and September 2004.
Many of the parties that have failed the screening have accused the justice ministry of unfair practices during the verification process.
The ministry has said these parties are welcome to take legal action if they are unsatisfied with the outcome of the verification process.
Separately, the Pelopor Party led by Rachmawati Soekarnoputri and the Pancasila Patriot Party have registered with the KPU.
As of Wednesday, only 19 of 50 parties that passed the ministry's screening had registered with the KPU to take part in the upcoming elections. Thursday is the deadline to register with the commission.
KPU member Mulyana W. Kusumah said the commission would set up eight teams to verify all of the parties, with each team consisting of at least six KPU officials.
He was optimistic the KPU would be able to check all of the parties' documents within one week. Mulyana also said the commission would open an office in West Irian Jaya province on October 28. He said about 42 candidates were competing for five seats with the West Irian Jaya KPU.
West Irian Jaya split from Papua province earlier this year. Another new province, Central Irian Jaya, was also to be declared but violent opposition to the new province forced a delay in the declaration.