Campaigners trample on rules, Singgih says<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The United Development Party (PPP), Golkar and
\nthe Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) all breached election rules
\nduring the early days of campaigning, Election Supervision
\nCommittee Chairman Singgih said Saturday.<\/p>\n
Violations of traffic laws and violence against rival
\ncontestants were the most common offenses, Singgih told
\njournalists.<\/p>\n
The election campaign started last Sunday and ends May 23. The
\ncountry will \"cool off\" for five days before eligible voters cast
\ntheir ballots on May 29.<\/p>\n
\"None of the violations can be categorized as subversion,\" he
\nsaid. Subversion is one of the most serious offenses under
\nIndonesian law. It carries a maximum penalty of death.<\/p>\n
In its campaign in the capital yesterday, Golkar continued to
\npour supporters onto the streets. Thousands held motorcades to
\nand from campaign grounds.<\/p>\n
Yesterday's street rallies were not as huge as those on
\nWednesday when they jammed major streets throughout the capital.<\/p>\n
Singgih also noted the removal of party flags and banners, and
\nphysical clashes among rival party supporters as very common
\nviolations.<\/p>\n
He said motorcades had been the most difficult violation to
\ncontrol although leaders of the contesting parties and the
\ngovernment had agreed to ban them.<\/p>\n
Singgih is scheduled to disclose details of the violations in
\nthe first two rounds (six days) before General Elections
\nCommittee officials and the three political contestants tomorrow.<\/p>\n
In a related development, Golkar chairman Harmoko proposed
\nyesterday that leaders of the three political parties meet and
\ndiscuss how to minimize rules violations.<\/p>\n
Speaking in Lamongan, East Java, Harmoko suggested the
\nNational Elections Committee, which oversees the electoral
\nprocess, sponsor such a meeting.<\/p>\n
He said he believed the various breaches of the law occurred
\nbecause party supporters did not understand the rules and had
\nfailed to maintain a peaceful climate.<\/p>\n
\"This meeting would evaluate the campaigns and dispel any
\nsuspicions or misunderstandings,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Asked about the PPP's campaign boycott in Jakarta and
\nYogyakarta, Singgih said the party had the right to decide what
\nto do but he noted that the party should inform the election
\ncommittee if it planned not to campaign.<\/p>\n
Singgih also called on all the contestants to inform the
\nauthorities of all their campaign plans.<\/p>\n
\"This is not meant to limit any contestant's movements. It
\nwill just be helpful for security officers to make the necessary
\nsecurity arrangements for the good of everyone,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Speaking about the attack on two PPP offices in Yogyakarta
\nWednesday, Singgih said he had ordered the local police to
\nconduct a thorough investigation into the incident.<\/p>\n
Singgih, who is also the attorney general, promised the
\nauthorities would be impartial in handling disputes between the
\nelection contenders.<\/p>\n
\"We have reprimanded Golkar, the PDI and the PPP without
\nexception,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Asked about who would be held responsible when members or
\nsupporters of a contestant violated regulations, Singgih said it
\nwas the local campaign organizer.<\/p>\n
\"We have, therefore, asked each party's leaders to improve
\ntheir security task forces,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the head of the Jakarta office of the Election
\nSupervision Committee, Fachri Qasim, said the three contestants
\nhad agreed in a meeting Friday evening that they would continue
\ntheir campaigning.<\/p>\n
\"They admitted in the meeting that they had violated the
\nregulations to some extent, especially concerning convoys of
\nvehicles.<\/p>\n
\"They also agreed to cooperate to find a solution to any new
\nproblems,\" he told reporters. (imn\/mds)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/campaigners-trample-on-rules-singgih-says-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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