Nationwide campaign for election system begins<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post,
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri launched on Monday a joint
\nnationwide campaign with the General Elections Commission (KPU)
\nto introduce the new electoral system to ensure the success of
\nthe 2004 general elections.<\/p>\n
Saying that the country would hold its first ever direct
\npresidential election in 2004, Megawati said it was important for
\nthe information dissemination process to begin as early as
\npossible.<\/p>\n
"We want to make sure that as many people as possible will
\nparticipate in the coming elections, so it can give true
\nlegitimacy to the next leader," Megawati said in the ceremony.<\/p>\n
She underlined that the campaign was not meant to support any
\nparticular political party, but was purely to ensure the success
\nof the elections.<\/p>\n
"It is in the interest of the government to see that the
\nupcoming elections will succeed, as it is a government program,"
\nshe stressed.<\/p>\n
Megawati has been nominated by her Indonesian Democratic Party
\nof Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) as its sole presidential candidate.<\/p>\n
KPU chairman Nazaruddin Syamsuddin said the public campaign
\nwould be conducted through the media, such as television and
\nradio, and through information dissemination activities involving
\nregional administration heads.<\/p>\n
He said the information dissemination program would be carried
\nout in three stages starting Sept. 2003, and would last until
\nOct. 2004.<\/p>\n
"The first stage will run from September through December this
\nyear, with the main agenda of introducing the new electoral
\nsystem and the KPU.<\/p>\n
"From February through April (2004), we will disseminate
\ninformation about the legislative election and from May through
\nOctober, about the two-stage presidential election," he said.<\/p>\n
During the campaign, the KPU would be supported by regional
\nadministrations, which would organize public forums for KPU
\nmembers to explain the new electoral system to locals.<\/p>\n
Indonesia will hold its legislative election in April 2004 and
\ntwo-stage direct presidential election in July and September.<\/p>\n
Mock elections organized by the Center for Electoral Reform
\n(Cetro) across the country suggested that most people, did not
\nunderstand how the new electoral system worked.<\/p>\n
Under the new Election Law, ballot papers for next year's
\nlegislative and presidential elections would bear not only
\nsymbols of political parties, but also the names and photographs
\nof candidates.<\/p>\n
Many have suggested that voters would be confused by the new
\nsystem, as each ballot paper would consist of many candidates.
\nWith over 20 political parties expected to contest the elections,
\nthe country might see long ballot papers.<\/p>\n
Nazaruddin also introduced the electoral mascot, a ballot-box
\ncartoon character with eyes, ears and limbs.<\/p>\n
The election also has a theme song, which was aired on
\ntelevision and radio stations nationwide starting Monday.<\/p>\n
"There will be 145 million potential voters, and we hope to
\nensure that as many people as possible join the coming
\nelections," Nazaruddin said.<\/p>\n
Separately, House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Akbar
\nTandjung welcomed the launch of the nationwide public awareness
\ncampaign on the general elections.<\/p>\n
He said the campaign would help the people understand the new
\nelectoral system and its implementation.<\/p>\n
"The success of the election depends on the participation of
\nthe people," Akbar said at the opening of the House's new session
\non Monday.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/nationwide-campaign-for-election-system-begins-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}