Minority parties told to start campaigning<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Political observer Afan Gaffar suggested that
\nthe minority political parties launch their election campaigning
\nnow, rather than wait until the official electioneering time in
\n1997.<\/p>\n
He told activists of the Moslem-based United Development Party
\n(PPP) and the nationalist Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) to
\nmake use of the available time by trying more effective \"door-to-
\ndoor\" campaigning.<\/p>\n
\"Don't wait until the official campaigning time,\" he told the
\nforum for dialogs of activists of the political contestants in
\nYogyakarta yesterday.<\/p>\n
Also speaking at the gathering yesterday was political
\nscientist Riswandha Imawan. Both Afan and Riswandha are lecturers
\nat the Gadjah Mada University in Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
Afan encouraged some 200 activists of PDI yesterday to also
\nmake use of the newly issued ruling on political gathering
\npermits.<\/p>\n
\"The ruling has given a greater leeway for the political
\nparties to hold political meetings, so you should use it to
\ncommunicate better with your supporters,\" Afan was quoted by the
\nAntara news agency as saying.<\/p>\n
\"Launch a door-to-door campaign, hold meetings, because when
\nelections time arrive, you won't have any time to hold dialogs
\nwith your supporters.\"<\/p>\n
As the country is gearing up for the 1997 general elections,
\nthe ruling Golkar and the two minority political parties have
\nbeen engaged in discussions about methods for campaign rallies.<\/p>\n
Golkar, whose chairman Harmoko has been traveling extensively
\nfor \"cadre meetings\" which some people said smacked of premature
\nelectioneering, has proposed that outdoor election campaign
\nrallies be replaced with indoor discussions.<\/p>\n
Harmoko, who has been accused of \"stealing\" the time available
\nfor campaign rallies, also said Golkar wanted there to be
\n\"campaigns in the form of discussions\" within each political
\nparty, but not between the political contestants.<\/p>\n
Electioneering<\/p>\n
Golkar has often been criticized as launching activities, such
\nas holding massive rallies of members across the country, which
\nsmacked of electioneering, while PPP and PDI often encounter
\ndifficulties in their attempts to hold similar gatherings.<\/p>\n
Under the existing rules, election campaigning may be carried
\nout only a few weeks before election day. Rallies and outdoor
\ncampaigns are permitted only for one month before the polls are
\nconducted.<\/p>\n
PDI has expressed reluctance to accept the proposal. PPP
\nstated its readiness for both indoor and outdoor campaigns, but
\nasked that political rallies not be totally banned. (swe)<\/p>",
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