Nani Afrida, Banda Aceh – Only two out of 10 local political parties in Aceh Nanggroe Darussalam have satisfied requirements to participate in the verification process scheduled for February. The event is in preparation for the direct regional elections to be held across the province next year.
"We expect the eight other parties to immediately complete the requirements in order to accelerate the verification process. Time is of the essence in this matter," Jailani M. Ali, the head of the legal services division of the Aceh Justice and Human Rights Office, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
The two prepared parties are the Aceh People's Party (PRA) and GAM (Free Aceh Movement) Party. They have met administrative preconditions, such as handing in letters of approval and documents from their respective regional representatives council, identification letters, statutes and rules of association, and party symbols.
The eight parties which have yet to meet administrative requirements include Gabthat, Serambi Persada Nusantara Serikat, Aliansi Peduli Perempuan, Darussalam, Aceh Meudaulat, Lokal Aceh, Daulat Atjeh and Pemersatu Muslimin Aceh.
The verification process will be conducted in the middle of February. The local justice and human rights office has formed a 20-member verification team for the purpose.
"If all the registered parties have met the administrative requirements, we can evaluate them simultaneously, as it would save funds, time and energy," said Jailani.
In the process, each party chairman, executive leader, secretary and treasurer will be verified according to their identity cards, notification letters from their respective village heads and other administrative requirements.
Should any parties fail to fulfill their administrative requirements, the justice and human rights office will likely conduct a second phase verification process. Jailani did not mention any deadline for the verification process as it was still in the planning stage.
The verification process will be entirely financed by the Aceh-Nias Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency. The total cost of the process is expected to be Rp 540 million (approximately US$60,000).
The allocation of funds for the verification process has not been without controversy. Community figures in Aceh have criticized the process stating that financing for the administration of the verification process should be paid by the provincial budget and not with funds set aside for tsunami survivors.