KPU calls for peaceful elections<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
The General Elections Commission (KPU) is completing the draft of
\na code of ethics for political parties that underscores the need
\nfor election candidates to maintain peace.<\/p>\n
The code also prohibits rallies beyond the official campaign
\nperiod between March 11 and April 1, 2004 and violence against
\nthe press. It encourages parties to respect KPU decisions and to
\nshow tolerance toward rival supporters.<\/p>\n
At least three parties confirmed their approval of several
\npoints of the code, but several new parties demanded flexibility
\nby asking time to introduce themselves to the public before the
\nofficial campaign starts.<\/p>\n
The United Development Party (PPP), which agreed to the
\nprinciple of nonviolence, rejected the demand for extra time to
\nhold public gathering outside the official campaign period.<\/p>\n
\"We agree that parties must not commit violence in any
\nactivities and the presence of a task force is to ensure that our
\nsupporters will behave,\" Chozin Chumaidy, PPP deputy secretary
\ngeneral, told the Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
\"But, public gatherings before the campaign period are
\nunacceptable. I think parties have done enough to introduce
\nthemselves to the public, and now it is time to educate
\nsupporters, for example, on how to punch ballot papers\".<\/p>\n
The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the United Democratic
\nNationhood Party (PPDK) expressed their support for violence-free
\nelections.<\/p>\n
But they complained about the limited time allowed to
\nintroduce themselves to the public.<\/p>\n
\"If we want to recruit executives in villages where we lack
\nmembers, we have no choice but to hold public gatherings to make
\npeople aware of us,\" Suswono of PKS said.<\/p>\n
\"This public socialization is necessary for small parties.\"<\/p>\n
According to him, such a campaign should be allowed in a more
\nlow-key manner than outdoor public forums.<\/p>\n
PPDK secretary-general Rivai Pulungan agreed that introducing
\na party to the public ahead of the campaign period was necessary
\nto gain support.<\/p>\n
\"We are against rallies outside the campaign period as certain
\nbig parties have done, but we still need to make the public aware
\nof our presence before the campaign period,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the party had approached community leaders to join its
\nboard of executives to help win adequate support,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said parties should be basically allowed to carry out
\nactivities ahead of the campaign period without any fear of being
\ncharge with violating the Election Law.<\/p>\n
So far, most of the 24 parties have expressed their support
\nfor the code of ethics.<\/p>\n
On another occasion, KPU announced that 163 more regional
\nrepresentatives council (DPD) aspirants passed their
\nadministrative and factual verifications, thus they would be able
\nto contest next year's elections.<\/p>\n
KPU member Mulyana W. Kusumah said the DPD hopefuls came from
\nfive provinces: Papua, West Kalimantan, West Nusa Tenggara,
\nNorth Sulawesi and Southeast Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
South Sulawesi's Regional Elections Commission (KPUD) is now
\nthe only provincial chapter of KPU that has not submitted the
\nlist of candidates.<\/p>\n
The KPUD in South Sulawesi remains split in determining the
\nfate of three candidates -- AA Baramuli, Tanri Abeng and Beddu
\nAmang, who have resided outside the province for a long time. The
\nlaw requires a DPD candidate to have lived in a province they
\nwill represent for three consecutive years before their
\nregistration.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kpu-calls-for-peaceful-elections-1447899208",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}