Parties banned from financing noncampaign programs in media<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) and the General
\nElections Commission (KPU) agreed on Wednesday to prohibit
\npolitical parties and regional representative candidates from
\nfinancing informational, educational or entertainment programs in
\nthe electronic media.<\/p>\n
Both commissions agreed that, in line with the elections law,
\ncandidates should be given equal opportunities to campaign, and
\ntherefore should not be allowed to use noncampaign programs as a
\nforum for campaigning.<\/p>\n
Yet, the electronic media cannot be barred from running news
\nprograms on political parties or regional representative
\ncandidates.<\/p>\n
According to the agreement signed by the commissions here on
\nThursday, both radio and TV stations will be allowed to air
\nelection education programs. Stations will be required to air
\ninformation on polling methods and the polling period.<\/p>\n
Also allowed to be included in the educational programs are
\ninteractive dialogs, speeches and debates<\/p>\n
TV stations will be allowed to air parties' electoral
\ncampaigns in paid advertisements, with parties allowed a maximum
\nof 10 30-second spots a day. Radio stations will be allowed to
\nair a maximum of 10 spots a day per party, with each spot allowed
\nto run for a maximum of 60 seconds.<\/p>\n
Besides the advertisements, TV and radio stations are required
\nto allot free-of-charge campaign spots once during the campaign
\nperiod, which is from March 11 to April 1.<\/p>\n
The agreement carries only administrative sanctions for any
\nviolations of the rulings.<\/p>\n
KPI chairman Victor Menayang said his organization could
\nimpose harsher sanctions such as broadcast bans for any radio or
\nTV stations violating the agreement.<\/p>\n
"This agreement aims at encouraging electronic media to keep a
\ndistance from those contesting the election and protect the
\nindependence of the electronic media," he said.<\/p>\n
Political analyst Rizal Mallarangeng has predicted the
\nelectronic media could receive up to 40 percent of the campaign
\nfunds of political parties and regional representative
\ncandidates.<\/p>",
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