PRESIDENT DISCUSSES ELECTION-RELATED PROBLEMS WITH GOVERNORS

Jakarta, April 15 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono held a meeting with a number of provincial governors at his office here on Wednesday to discuss matters related to the April 9, 2009 legislative election.

The meeting which started at 11 a.m. was also attended by a number of cabinet ministers and security agency chiefs including Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo AS, Law and Human Rights Minister Andi Mattalata, State Intelligence Agency (BIN) Chief Syamsir Siregar, National Defense Forces (TNI) Commander Gen Djoko Santoso, and National Police Chief Gen Bambang Hendarso Danuri.
Among the provincial governors seen at the meeting were among others Made Mangku Pastika of Bali, Bibit Waluyo of Central Java, Syahrul Yasin Limpo of South Sulawesi, and Fauzi Bowo of Jakarta.
Earlier, at a plenary cabinet meeting on Tuesday, President Yudhoyono said dissatisfaction about alleged violations in the recent legislative election should be expressed through legal channels so as not to disturb the electoral processes themselves.
According to the president, people should now focus their attention not on the possible implications of alleged violations or irregularities but on to the way how to overcome real problems fairly through legal processes.
"In a democracy, political parties have the right to protest alleged violations , including violations of electoral rules but we do hope that the protests are to be conveyed through legal mechanisms. It is better to avoid anarchy by following the existing mechanisms and rules," the president said.
The head of state agreed that the reports about alleged violation in the legislative election should be followed up.
"I agree that whatever the accusations and the complaints are, they should be responded to and followed up in accordance with existing rules and regulations," the president said as he explained the latest political situation in the country to the participants of the meeting.
The president also expressed concern over the problematic permanent voters list (PDT) which was complained in a number of regions.
"I for one as the head of state have concern and apprehension about the DPT-related problem in the regions, and therefore we let it up to General Election Commission (KPU) to explain it and to make necessary improvements," Yudhoyono said.