Parties defend task forces<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Big political parties defended on Thursday the presence of their
\nmilitary-style task forces, despite the risk of violence they
\nmight pose in the run up to next year's elections.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the
\nNational Awakening Party (PKB), and Golkar Party are among those
\nbig parties that said their task forces would be managed to help
\nsecure their respective party activities.<\/p>\n
\"The task force of a party should not bother the activities of
\nother parties, let alone interfere with the police's authority,\"
\nPKB secretary general Syaifullah Yusuf said.<\/p>\n
He was speaking to reporters after a meeting between the
\nGeneral Elections Commission (KPU) and 24 political parties to
\ndiscuss various issues, including nomination procedures and the
\nparty code of ethics.<\/p>\n
\"The party code of ethics is necessary to create honest, fair,
\nand non-violent elections,\" Syaifullah said.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan senior member Jacob Tobing concurred with
\nSyaiful.<\/p>\n
\"We agree with non-violent principles... however we still need
\nour task force,\" he said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
He added that existing parties had to learn from the peaceful
\nactivities carried out during 1999 election campaigns.<\/p>\n
During the meeting, KPU proposed the draft of the party code
\nof ethics banned non-violent activities and guaranteed parties
\nthe right to hold election campaigns in places traditionally
\nknown as the strongholds of other political parties.<\/p>\n
KPU also asked parties to hold a joint campaign or carnival on
\nthe first day of the elections campaign period, which will run
\nfrom March 11 through until April 1.<\/p>\n
Indonesia will hold the legislative election on April 5,
\nfollowed by two-phase presidential elections on July 5 and Sept.
\n20 respectively.<\/p>\n
A number of small political parties including the Prosperous
\nPeace Party (PDS), the Reform Star Party (PBR) and the Freedom
\nBull National Party (PNBK) have argued against the existence of
\nparty task forces.<\/p>\n
\"It is better to allow the police to secure public areas, let
\nalone parties activities,\" Suhardi Sudiro said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the
\nSocialist Democratic Worker Party (PBSD) said small parties
\nshould be given an equal chance to campaign.<\/p>\n
\"The campaign period in March is not enough. Small parties
\nshould also be given an equal chance to disseminate their
\nprograms to people,\" PBSD secretary general Diah Indriastuti
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti said KPU would not demand
\nthe draft of party code of ethics be adopted by the parties as
\nthe commission was only a facilitator.<\/p>\n
Aside from the party code of ethics, Ramlan also said that KPU
\nwould strictly monitor the activities of political parties to
\ndecide whether or not they conducted campaigns outside the
\ncampaign period.<\/p>\n
Based on The Jakarta Post's monitoring, Jakarta's main streets
\n-- Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Gatot Subroto -- are now free from party
\nflags. But in a small street in Tebet, several party flags are
\nalready flying.<\/p>\n
During the meeting, a number of political parties also
\nannounced whether they were ready or not to nominate legislative
\naspirants.<\/p>\n
M.S. Kaban from the Crescent Star Party (PBB) said his party
\nhad more than 550 people ready to contest next year's general
\nelection.<\/p>\n
He also said that PBB had met the minimum 30 percent of women
\nlegislative candidates. \"We will announce on Dec. 20 all
\nlegislator aspirants,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Parties must start submitting their list of legislator
\nhopefuls to KPU from Dec. 22 through Dec. 29.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/parties-defend-task-forces-1447899208",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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