Hotli Simanjuntak, Banda Aceh – Local political parties in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam are at risk of being excluded from the 2009 elections due to delays in registration by the Aceh chapter of the Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP), a local party leader said.

"We don't know where to register ourselves yet," said Aceh People's Party (PRA) secretary-general Thamrin Ananda in Banda Aceh on Sunday.

According to Thamrin, registration has been postponed because of delays in determining the ordinance for local political parties, which is still being deliberated at the Aceh legislature.

"There are still many points that must be revised, such as the required Koran recital proficiency for legislative candidates from local political parties," Thamrin said.

According to paragraphs one and two of Article 13 of the bill, one of the requirements to become a legislator is the ability to implement sharia law and pass the Koran recital test.

The draft law has been criticized as discriminatory because such conditions are not required by national political parties.

"We hope for an immediate endorsement of the ordinance, keeping in mind the registration process of participating parties is very tight," Thamrin told The Jakarta Post.

He said he was wary of the deadline given by the General Elections Commission (KPU) for the verification process.

According to the national agenda, the KPU will verify political parties approved for the elections from June 7 to 14.

In the meantime, the Aceh KIPP is expected to hold a working meeting with the central KPU in Jakarta from June 4 to 7.

"If the registration process for local political parties starts on June 8, then Aceh KIPP has only two to three days to approve 12 local and national parties in Aceh," Thamrin said.

With insufficient KIPP offices in the regencies, Thamrin said he believed Aceh KIPP was likely to fail the task.

"We cannot do anything now without the ordinance," said Aceh KIPP vice head Ilham Syahputra.

Aceh KIPP is lobbying the central KPU to ask for an extended registration period, he said.

"Local parties are new in Aceh, as throughout Indonesia. We have asked for some consideration from the KPU," Ilham said.

The Aceh KIPP was inaugurated by Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf on May 24 this year, while KIPP offices in a number of regencies are currently carrying out tests to appoint new committee members.

"Virtually no KIPP members in the regencies have been appointed so far," Ilham said.

The presence of local political parties is stipulated in Law No. 11/2006 on the establishment of local parties in Aceh, following the peace pact signed between the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) and the Indonesian government in Helsinki in 2005.