Adianto P. Simamora and Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – Dozens of corruption suspects have made it onto a provisional list of legislative candidates recently published by the General Elections Commission, poll watchdogs say.
The People's Voters Education Network (JPPR) and the Indonesia Parliamentary Watchdog (Formappi) said some of the listed candidates were being investigated in connection with the alleged misappropriation of Bank Indonesia funds.
JPPR executive director Jerry Sumampow said 21 candidates in line to contest seats at the House of Representatives were involved in criminal cases, including nine implicated in corruption cases.
The watchdog also found that a further 23 candidates running for provincial legislative seats were connected with criminal activities.
Law No. 10/2008 on elections allows crime suspects and people who have served prison sentences of less than five years to run in elections.
The JPPR reported the names of the "problematic" legislative candidates to the Elections Supervisory Body (Bawaslu).
Jerry said the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's (PDI-P) candidate list included eight politicians implicated in corruption cases and that the Marhaenism Party had submitted two candidates who allegedly submitted fake diplomas during the registration process.
During a separate media conference, Formappi unveiled 21 legislative hopefuls linked to various criminal cases. "Surprisingly, 11 of the "problematic" candidates are from the PDI-P," Formappi executive director Sebastian Salang said.
The Formappi said the PDI-P had nominated incumbent House representatives who had continually failed to show up to House sessions, naming Taufik Kiemas, Guruh Irianto Soekarnoputri, Sabam Sirait and Alexander Litaay.
Formappi said that, combined, the legislators had attended less than 30 percent of House sessions in 2002.
"If they are nominated as legislators, how will the quality of the House be improved?" Sebastian said. Formappi's list of questionable candidates includes 11 filed by the PDI-P, five from the Development Unity Party (PPP), two from the National Mandate Party (PAN), and one each from the Indonesian Democratic Vanguard Party (PPDI), the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the Republican Party. "We will file our findings with the KPU on Monday," Sebastian said.
PDI-P legislator Ganjar Pranowo said he was afraid the report could smear the party's image ahead of the elections. "But we accept such criticism. We respect analysis from the activists, but the accusations have not been proven," he said.
The country will hold the House and regional legislative elections on April 9, 2009.
The KPU published the names of 11,868 legislative candidates via the media Wednesday, beginning a 10-day period during which the public may lodge complaints or objections.
The KPU is authorized to reject candidates based on public complaints lodged during the 10-day period.
On Thursday, the Elections Supervisory Commission said it had so far received 24 public complaints regarding the listed candidates.