Jakarta happy with no-street campaigns<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The city administration and all provincial
\nchapters of political parties contesting the June general
\nelection here praised the General Elections Commission's (KPU)
\nruling banning campaign rallies in the streets.<\/p>\n
Governor Sutiyoso told reporters on Tuesday he was happy with
\nKPU's decision as it would limit the possibility of clashes
\nbetween party supporters during the street rallies.<\/p>\n
\"It (the ruling) is very good, indeed. Our present condition
\nis too vulnerable for any kind of clashes to occur,\" the three-
\nstar active Army general said.<\/p>\n
\"I think we should also learn from past experiences, when we
\nhad only three political parties, and street campaigns were
\naccepted. Then, tension and disturbances were frequent. Today, we
\nhave more contestants than before,\" Sutiyoso said, referring to
\nthe 48 parties contending the general election.<\/p>\n
According to Tongam Tambunan from the city's public order
\noffice, the banning of street campaigns would ease the burden on
\nhis 600 personnel assigned to secure the city during the 16-day
\ncampaign period starting on May 20.<\/p>\n
\"The possibility of clashes will be bigger as there will be
\nseveral parties campaigning in the streets on the same day,\"
\nSutiyoso has said.<\/p>\n
The view held by the governor was repeated by representatives
\nof the Jakarta chapters of the National Mandate Party (PAN), the
\nUnited Development Party (PPP), the Indonesian Democratic Party
\n(PDI) and the Golkar Party. They all welcomed the KPU ruling,
\nsaying street rallies would only cause public anxiety.<\/p>\n
The head of research and development at PAN's Jakarta chapter,
\nAmir Hamzah, said that rallying on the streets was \"useless\".<\/p>\n
\"It would be much better if the campaigning could be carried
\nout in the form of debates, which would display the ability and
\nthoughts of the party leaders,\" Amir said.<\/p>\n
For that purpose, he said, PAN's Jakarta chapter has equipped
\nits members with knowledge of party policies to ready them for
\ndebating campaigns.<\/p>\n
Other Jakarta party heads, including PDI's Lukman Mokoginta,
\nGolkar's Tadjus Sobirin, and PPP's Djafar Badjeber, also
\nsupported the idea of campaigns based on dialog.<\/p>\n
\"Our party has enough experience in any kind of campaign,
\nthat's why we will follow whatever regulation is passed,\" Djafar
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Separately, the chairman of the Jakarta Chapter of the
\nIndonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Punky B. Purwadi,
\nrefused to comment on KPU's decision on the upcoming campaigns.<\/p>\n
Shoe polisher Juanto was more outspoken.<\/p>\n
He said he preferred to see street campaigns in the city. \"For
\nme, it's just like a party. We can go here and there without
\npaying (transportation fares). Or we will, instead, get money,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Djafar, in his capacity as chairman of the
\nProvincial Elections Committee (PPD I) for the city on Tuesday
\nvowed to make the election registration process easier for
\nJakartans.<\/p>\n
According to the committee, voter registration in the capital
\nwould be conducted from March 5 to May 5. Djafar said residents
\nwith identification cards that had expired would \"still be
\nallowed\" to vote in the polls.<\/p>\n
\"The move was taken because there are too many Jakartans who
\nhave a lack of awareness of their own private documents,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
However, Djafar said the committee had not yet decided how to
\ndeal with city residents who had no official city-issued
\nidentification.<\/p>\n
\"We should first consult with the National Elections Committee
\n(PPI).\"<\/p>\n
PPD I will inaugurate members of the Regional Elections
\nCommittee (PPD II) in the capital on April 1, the District
\nElections Committee (PPK) on April 3, and the Local Elections
\nCommittee (PPS) on the following day. (ind)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jakarta-happy-with-no-street-campaigns-1447893297",
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