Parties back strict rules on campaigning<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Representatives of political parties support a
\nstrict code of conduct to govern campaign activities, including
\nstiff sanctions for offending parties and supporters, to guard
\nagainst violence when electioneering gets underway on May 18.<\/p>\n
In a discussion on Saturday, they disagreed on the issue of
\nrestricting campaigning to indoor rallies. A representative of a
\nnew party claimed it was unfair because it would prevent the
\npublic from getting to know the crop of newly founded
\norganizations.<\/p>\n
The election is scheduled on June 7.<\/p>\n
Qomari Anwar, chief of the research and development department
\nof the United Development Party, Theo Sambuaga, deputy chairman
\nof the ruling Golkar and Nur Mahmudi Isma'il, president of the
\nJustice Party, were among participants in the discussion on a
\n\"New Indonesia\" organized by Forum Salemba.<\/p>\n
Also in attendance were about 700 students from the University
\nof Indonesia, Bandung Institute of Technology and Airlangga
\nUniversity in Surabaya.<\/p>\n
Theo said the code of conduct would be used to hold
\nresponsible any party organizing a rally which became violent.<\/p>\n
\"If a campaign turns out to be violent, parties organizing it
\nshould be banned from taking part in the election and supporters
\ninvolved in the violence should be given stiff penalties.\"<\/p>\n
The election committee, scheduled to replace the government-
\nrun General Election Institute (LPU) on March 1, will first draw
\nup an election conduct code.<\/p>\n
Qomari said parties should be barred from mobilizing masses
\nbefore and during the campaign period.<\/p>\n
\"Parties should also be barred from organizing campaign
\nactivities in open fields and party supporters should not be
\nallowed to take to the streets because such conditions are liable
\nto violent clashes.\"<\/p>\n
Past campaigns have been marked by rallies in public spaces,
\ndrawing huge crowds.<\/p>\n
Qomari said the nation should learn from untoward experiences
\nfrom clashes during past campaigns. The government ruled rallies
\nshould only held indoors in the 1997 election, but violence often
\noccurred during the journeys to the sites.<\/p>\n
\"Amid the uncertain condition and economic crisis, the next
\nrallies could be worse if political parties are allowed to
\nmobilize their supporters to take to the streets and hold
\ncampaign activities in open fields.\" He advocated restricting
\ncampaign messages to the indoors and through the media.<\/p>\n
\"Campaign activities in open fields are not effective to hold
\ndialogs with a crowd of between 50,000 and 100,000.\"<\/p>\n
He believed most of the rally participants were drawn by the
\ndangdut music and singers rather than any curiosity about party
\nplatforms.<\/p>\n
Nur Mahmudi agreed strict campaign rules were needed but said
\nthe parties, especially new ones, should be allowed to hold their
\ncampaign meetings in the open to better reach the public.<\/p>\n
\"The old political parties should not be egotistical...
\nCampaign activities should be allowed to be held in open fields
\nto let people know about their name, symbol and programs.\"<\/p>\n
Nur Mahmudi said much of the past violence was not caused by
\nthe political parties, but resulted from repressive actions taken
\nby the government against the United Development Party and the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party. (rms)<\/p>",
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