PPP leader urges campaign boycott<\/p>\n
SURAKARTA (JP): A local United Development Party (PPP) leader
\nhas called for a boycott of the upcoming election campaign,
\nsaying the rules were made to benefit the dominant political
\norganization, Golkar.<\/p>\n
Chief the Surakarta (Solo) PPP chapter Mudrick Setiawan
\nSangidu said the campaign rules \"castrated\" the rights of PPP and
\nthe Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).<\/p>\n
\"I've proposed that PPP should not take part in the election
\ncampaign,\" he said in a post-Idul Fitri gathering with party
\nmembers in the ancient city Monday night.<\/p>\n
The election campaign is set for April 27 to May 23. Election
\nday is May 29.<\/p>\n
PPP objects to the rule that requires contestants to register
\nall vehicles to be used in the campaigns with the authorities.<\/p>\n
The party also frowns on the rule that makes it obligatory for
\npolitical campaigners to submit their draft broadcast speeches to
\nelectoral officials for editing, Sangidu said.<\/p>\n
The minority PDI has aired a similar objection to the
\nregulations. The government claims the rules were made based on
\ndialog with party officials.<\/p>\n
\"What are the rules all about?\" Sangidu said. \"Who on earth is
\nsupposed to be voting, the people or the government? It's funny
\nthat materials for dialogs are subject to editing by the
\ngovernment.\"<\/p>\n
Criticism of the regulations also came from political observer
\nCornelis LAY of Yogyakarta's Gadjah Mada University.<\/p>\n
He said the rules have created a negative impression of the
\ngovernment.<\/p>\n
\"The public will think the government made the rules to help a
\ncertain contestant win the general election at the cost of the
\nothers.\"<\/p>\n
He said the rules were prompted by fears that street rallies,
\nif they had been allowed in this year's election campaign, could
\nspiral out of control and turn into riots.<\/p>\n
\"But by the same token, people might run wild because they
\nfeel they are being restricted by the regulations,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Political scholar Soehardjo S.S., from Semarang's Diponegoro
\nUniversity, agreed that the electoral rules hurt PPP and PDI's
\ninterests .<\/p>\n
He said the two minority parties should seek an explanation
\nfrom the government on why it is being so restrictive in the
\nelection campaign regulations.<\/p>\n
He said the increasing cases of violence prior to the last
\nelection might have provoked the government to set the rules.
\n(har\/pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ppp-leader-urges-campaign-boycott-1447893297",
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