KPU may slap ban on Mega<\/p>\n
M. Taufiqurrahman and Oyos Saroso HN, Jakarta\/Bandarlampung<\/p>\n
The incumbent Megawati Soekarnoputri may become the first
\npresidential candidate to be banned from campaigning, the General
\nElections Commission (KPU) confirmed on Monday when it upheld the
\nBali General Elections Commission's decision (KPUD).<\/p>\n
\"We give them three days to counter the accusation that state
\nofficials were involved in their last Bali campaign, or else the
\nban will take effect (by Tuesday),\" KPU deputy chief Ramlan
\nSurbakti said, referring to Megawati and her running mate Hasyim
\nMuzadi.<\/p>\n
The KPUD issued over the weekend a ruling banning the pair
\nfrom holding open-air campaigns on the resort island after it
\nfound the pair's team had involved state officials, thereby
\nviolating the presidential election law.<\/p>\n
Other presidential candidates have also sought to worm their
\nway out of the election rules, such as doing charity work \"in
\ntheir individual capacity.\" However the incumbent has the added
\nopportunity of using her presidential visits across the country.<\/p>\n
The reprimand against Megawati-Hasyim was the first issued by
\nthe KPUD Bali in the campaign period from June 1 through to July
\n1.<\/p>\n
Bali is the stronghold of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI-P) under which Megawati is running and the ruling
\nfaces potential resistance. The ban would take effect from June
\n13 to the end of the campaign period.<\/p>\n
Last Friday, Megawati's team staged a campaign in Debes
\nvillage, Tabanan regency, which was attended by village heads,
\ndozens of Tabanan regency officials, Badung Regent AA Ngurah Oka
\nRatmadi and Klungkung Regent Wayan Chandra.<\/p>\n
The violation came to light after the KPUD found that
\ninvitations to the campaign were sent by a local organization,
\nthe Balinese People Movement (Garba) chaired by Tabanan Regent
\nAdi Wiryatama.<\/p>\n
KPUD chairman IGP Artha said that Garba members had admitted
\ntheir inclusion on Megawati's Bali team.<\/p>\n
Separately in Lampung, the KPUD demanded clarification over
\nwhether Megawati's visit to the province on Tuesday was in her
\ncapacity as incumbent President or presidential candidate.<\/p>\n
Megawati and her husband Taufik Kiemas are to receive honorary
\ntitles from the Lampung community, \"for their contribution to the
\nprovince's development\", organizers said. They insisted that she
\nwas invited in her individual capacity, not as president.<\/p>\n
However, she was also slated to greet her supporters during an
\nopen-air campaign in the provincial capital, Bandar Lampung. \"If
\nshe is found to be campaigning during a state visit we will
\ndefinitely take action,\" said KPUD member Edwin Hanibal.<\/p>\n
He said that it would be better if Megawati postponed her
\nvisit to the province.<\/p>\n
In the East Java town of Kediri, a joint team of the KPUD, the
\nElection Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) and the city police
\ndissolved an event organized by the Megawati-Hasyim team, saying
\nthat it was not a scheduled event.<\/p>\n
Member of the local Panwaslu Imam Subaweh was quoted by Antara
\nas saying that although the event was aimed at distributing free
\nmedication to the poor, it also involved the distribution of
\ncampaign material.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kpu-may-slap-ban-on-mega-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}