Campaigning parties break Day of Silence<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Several political parties continued to campaign across the
\ncountry on Monday, ignoring a ban on campaigning during Sunday's
\nHindu Day of Silence and the following national holiday.<\/p>\n
The General Elections Commission (KPU) wrote to the State
\nSecretariat on March 12 that campaigns were banned on Sunday on
\nBali and other areas with Hindu communities. Campaigns were
\nbanned on Monday, as it was a national holiday.<\/p>\n
Election Law No. 12\/2003 authorizes the KPU to set up the
\ncampaign schedule. Violations of the campaign schedule carry a
\npenalty of 15 days' to three months' imprisonment or a fine of
\nbetween Rp 100,000 (about US$11.63) and Rp 1 million.<\/p>\n
At least four political parties -- the National Mandate Party
\n(PAN), the Concern for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB), the
\nProsperous Justice Party (PKS) and the Indonesian Democratic
\nVanguard Party (PPDI) -- campaigned on Monday in various areas.<\/p>\n
In Yogyakarta, PAN leader and People's Consultative Assembly
\nSpeaker Amien Rais warned the public of \"rotten parties\" engaging
\nin \"money politics\". People should report any evidence to the
\npolice, Amien told thousands of supporters.<\/p>\n
In Bantul, Yogyakarta, PKPB campaigner Rusdiharjo, a former
\nNational Police chief, admitted to about 1,000 supporters that
\nhis party was attempting to restore the regime of former
\npresident Soeharto, stressing that \"The New Order has negative
\nand positive sides\".<\/p>\n
The party drew ire when PKPB leader Gen. (ret) R. Hartono
\nappealed to people in Yogyakarta to be loyal to Soeharto.<\/p>\n
The party is among those alleged of conducting money politics
\nthrough its distribution of staple foods in Jakarta last week.<\/p>\n
PKPB campaign coordinator Vice Adm. (ret) Abu Hartono said on
\nSunday that the party had received warning from the Jakarta
\nGeneral Elections Commission against conducting any further
\npractices of \"money politics\". He said the warning was \"an
\noverreaction\".<\/p>\n
The staple food packages were donated by the Maluku Youths
\nUnion, an organization which supported the PKPB, Abu said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, PKPB presidential candidate Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana
\nwas unable to make her campaign on Sunday in Bukittinggi, West
\nSumatra, after her chartered Fokker F-28 airplane experienced
\nengine trouble.<\/p>\n
In Palu, Central Sulawesi, PKS Palu chapter chairman M. Ali
\nLamu warned the public of \"rotten politicians\" while claiming
\nthat it was free of corruption.<\/p>\n
The controversial National Movement Against Rotten Politicians
\nhad earlier published a list naming dozens of legislative
\ncandidates suspected of wrongdoings.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, around 4,000 supporters of the Indonesian
\nNahdlatul Community Party (PPNUI) showed up on Sunday at four
\ndesignated sports centers.<\/p>\n
PPNUI Jakarta chapter head Yamin Arsyad said that, if
\npossible, the party would fight to make education accessible to
\nall.<\/p>\n
Also on Sunday, PAN's campaign was among the most festive in
\nthe capital, their convoy causing considerable traffic although
\nactivities were supposed to be limited to indoor campaigns.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
\ncampaigned on Sunday while noting the holy day as an aside.<\/p>\n
\"We congratulate (the Hindu people) and also apologize to them
\nfor conducting a campaign today,\" said PDI-P chairwoman and
\nincumbent President Megawati Soekarnoputri at a rally of her
\nsupporters in Bandung, West Java.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/campaigning-parties-break-day-of-silence-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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