Panwaslu seeks review of campaign rules<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta\/Semarang\/Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
Although the presidential campaign will start only on Tuesday,
\nthe Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) is already planning
\nto file for judicial review on General Elections Commission (KPU)
\nruling No. 35\/2004 on the presidential campaign, saying that it
\nviolates the Elections Law.<\/p>\n
Panwaslu member Masyhudi Ridwan said on Monday that the
\nmeasure would be the committee's final move, should talks with
\nthe KPU on the issue fail to produce a resolution of the matter.<\/p>\n
\"We shall hold informal talks with KPU members and if they
\nfail we shall file directly for review with the Supreme Court,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
He said the ruling was rife with loopholes that could easily
\nbe exploited by presidential and vice presidential candidates
\ncontesting the July 5 polls.<\/p>\n
Panwaslu earlier pointed out that three articles in the ruling
\ncontradicted Law No. 23\/2003 on direct presidential elections.<\/p>\n
\"There are also contradictions in the ruling itself. For
\nexample, Article 1 stipulates that nine elements constitute the
\ndefinition of a campaign, but Article 4 says that there are only
\nfive,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Masyhudi said that such inconsistencies would make it
\ndifficult for Panwaslu to determine whether or not candidates had
\nviolated rules on campaigning.<\/p>\n
In a related development, Solahuddin Wahid, the running mate
\nof Golkar Party presidential candidate Wiranto, said in Semarang,
\nCentral Java, on Monday that he could not be accused of
\ncampaigning ahead of schedule.<\/p>\n
Solahuddin was in the city to fulfill a summons by the local
\nPanwaslu, which had accused him of early campaigning in a
\nseminar.<\/p>\n
\"I did not campaign early. I was invited as a speaker in a
\nseminar, and if I delivered a speech about my vision and mission
\nit was because a participant at the seminar asked me to,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Solahuddin, former member of the National Commission for Human
\nRights (Komnas HAM), also said that he did not distribute
\ncampaign paraphernalia to the participants of the seminar.<\/p>\n
\"As proof, our official sticker says Wareg (well-fed), Waras
\n(healthy) and Wasis (educated), but ones that were distributed
\nduring the seminar read Wareg (well-fed), Aman (peace) and Tenang
\n(secure),\" he said.<\/p>\n
Semarang Panwaslu chairman Sriyanto said that the committee
\nwould corroborate Solahuddin's statement with testimony from
\nseminar participants.<\/p>\n
The KPU ruling on presidential campaigning stipulates that
\ncandidates' activities can be construed as campaigning if they
\ninvolve the verbalization of their vision or mission.<\/p>\n
In Yogyakarta, presidential and vice presidential candidates
\nnominated by the National Mandate Party (PAN), Amien Rais and
\nSiswono Yudohusodo, embarked on what could be considered early
\ncampaigning.<\/p>\n
In a venue provided by Gadjah Mada University, the pairing
\ndelivered a speech setting out plans and programs should they win
\nthe presidential election, while members of their campaign team
\ndistributed printed material.<\/p>\n
Thousands of students and residents who live in the vicinity
\nof the university thronged the campaign venue to get a glimpse of
\nthe pair and took home campaign paraphernalia.<\/p>\n
Amien taught political science at the university before
\nembarking on a full-fledged political career.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/panwaslu-seeks-review-of-campaign-rules-1447893297",
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