Govt relaxes rules on election campaigners<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government, already under fire for its
\nelection policy that critics say benefits Golkar, is relaxing the
\nrules governing election campaigners.<\/p>\n
After meeting with leaders of the three political parties
\ncontesting the May 29 election, government officials said
\ncampaigners would be free to address gatherings as soon as they
\nwere registered with the General Elections Institute.<\/p>\n
Previously campaigners were ordered to obtain police permits
\nbefore they would be allowed to address any gathering.<\/p>\n
The coming election will be between the dominant political
\ngrouping Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP) and the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI).<\/p>\n
\"The campaigners will not have to obtain police approval
\nbefore they can deliver speeches as long as the content has been
\napproved by the government,\" institute secretary-general Suryatna
\nSubrata said.<\/p>\n
He said that campaigners would be divided into three
\ncategories according to administrative levels: national,
\nprovincial and regency.<\/p>\n
\"Campaigners registered as national level representatives can
\ndeliver speeches at any administration levels, while provincial
\nlevel campaigners can speak either at provincial or regency
\nforums.<\/p>\n
\"Regency level campaigners will only be allowed to speak at
\nregency and mayoralty-level forums.\"<\/p>\n
He said that the contestants would have to submit their lists
\nof campaigners to the election institute before they could take
\npart in the campaign.<\/p>\n
Suryatna, who is also secretary-general of the Home Affairs
\nMinistry, said the three contestants agreed that they would each
\nbe given four hours every evening during the campaign to display
\nposters, leaflets, and other printed publications in public
\nplaces.<\/p>\n
\"Displaying posters, leaflets and other printed publications
\nwill only be allowed from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. during the 27-day
\ncampaign period,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Asked what the government would do to minimize clashes between
\nsupporters of different contestants, Suryatna said the displaying
\nof the printed materials would be arranged by the police, while
\ndistribution of campaign sites would be decided by local
\nadministration heads.<\/p>\n
Campaigning will be restricted to the period between April 27
\nand May 23. May 24 to May 28 is a \"cooling-off period\" in which
\nno public political activity is allowed.<\/p>\n
Suryatna said the three political contestants agreed that
\nduring the cooling-off period, the contestants would be allowed
\nto hold internal, closed meetings.<\/p>\n
\"Each political contestant will be allowed to hold party
\nmeetings. But they can only include speeches from party members,\"
\nhe said. Inviting outsiders to address such a gathering would not
\nbe allowed.<\/p>\n
Suryatna said public discussions on the election campaign
\nregulations would also not be forbidden. \"Today's meeting was
\nthe last meeting,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The campaign regulations are contained in Presidential Decree
\nNo. 99\/1996 and Government Regulation No. 74\/1996, both issued
\nlast December. (imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-relaxes-rules-on-election-campaigners-1447893297",
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