Election speeches to be screened<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): All election campaign broadcasts must be
\napproved by the government before they go on air, according to
\nelectoral rules issued yesterday.<\/p>\n
The General Elections Institute, which will screen the
\nspeeches, was quick to stress this was not a form of censorship.<\/p>\n
"The screening team will ensure that the speeches do not
\nundermine Pancasila, slander government officials or attack the
\nother election contestants," Walujo, the institute's deputy
\nsecretary-general, said.<\/p>\n
The screening team will include officials from the institute,
\nthe Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Information.<\/p>\n
Walujo suggested that candidates focus their campaign speeches
\non economic development programs. "Their input is an important
\nsource in the process of drawing up the 1998 to 2003 Guidelines
\nof State Policies and in future reform programs," he said.<\/p>\n
Director General of Press and Graphics Subrata said campaign
\nspeeches were already regulated by rules and ethics issued by the
\nelection institute in November.<\/p>\n
The regulations on campaign speeches are part of the latest
\nelection campaign guidelines contained in a decree signed by
\nMinister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M.<\/p>\n
The dominant political group Golkar is contesting the May 29
\nelection against the United Development Party (PPP) and the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI).<\/p>\n
The government has restricted the campaigning period from
\nApril 27 to May 23. A five-day, cooling-off period -- during
\nwhich no campaigning is allowed -- precedes polling day.<\/p>\n
The government has restricted the campaigning methods, urging
\ncontestants to hold indoor meetings rather than outdoor rallies
\nto avoid violence or disturbances of the peace.<\/p>\n
To help all three political organizations reach a wider
\naudience, the state television network TVRI and the state radio
\nRRI will be at their disposal during the campaign period free of
\ncharge. The 27-day election period will be divided equally
\nbetween the three contestants.<\/p>\n
Minister of Information Harmoko, who oversees TVRI and RRI,
\nsaid in a separate decree that seven of the nine times a
\ncontestant is given access to the television and radio networks
\nshould be used for half-hour public debates.<\/p>\n
The other two times are for 15-minute monologues which should
\nbe delivered by the chairman of the respective organizations.<\/p>\n
These programs must be prerecorded and the networks must
\nreceive the text of the materials for the monologues or debates
\nfive days before they are aired.<\/p>\n
The programs will be relayed nationwide by the state networks
\nand private radio and television stations.<\/p>\n
In the public debates, the number of participants should not
\nexceed 30 people, including the audience.<\/p>\n
The debates are to be moderated by "neutral experts" appointed
\nby the government. The moderator will not be allowed to give his
\nor her opinions but would be allowed to control the debate if
\nveers off course.<\/p>\n
The decree bans political advertising on radio or television.<\/p>\n
Any contestant who violates the broadcasting guidelines is
\nliable to lose their allotted television and radio times.<\/p>\n
Leaders of the two minority parties criticized the
\nrestrictions yesterday as new forms of censorship, but they said
\nthey were resigned to having to comply with the regulations.<\/p>\n
Jusuf Syakir of the PPP said the regulations violated the
\nconsensus the three contestants reached with the government in a
\nmeeting to discuss the campaign rules last November.<\/p>\n
Jusuf questioned the rule preventing the PPP from choosing its
\nown moderator in the election debates.<\/p>\n
"Why should we have to use a moderator who is not familiar
\nwith the topic of the debate?<\/p>\n
"It seems that the government wants to let us be free, but at
\nthe same time it is also restraining us," he said.<\/p>\n
Budi Hardjono, who represented PDI at the November meeting,
\nsaid the screening of campaign material shows the government is
\nstill mistrustful of the election contestants.<\/p>\n
"Censorship is illogical. A political party is a legitimate
\norganization and it will not break away from the state ideology
\nPancasila or the election rules," Budi said.<\/p>\n
M. Budyatna, a mass communications expert and dean of the
\nUniversity of Indonesia's School of Social and Political
\nSciences, said the rules violate the right to freedom of
\nexpression.<\/p>\n
The rules were issued to help Golkar, he said.<\/p>\n
"The government should not take sides. It only harms its
\nimage. Everybody knows that Golkar will win," he said. (imn\/amd)<\/p>",
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