Rallies allowed in public sites<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The General Elections Commission (KPU) ruled on
\nMonday that political rallies would be permitted in public
\nplaces, and the number of participants would not be limited.<\/p>\n
Commission members last week proposed that the code of conduct
\non election campaigning, which was endorsed on Monday, restrict
\nthe size of rallies. In response to fears of rallies becoming
\nviolent, it was suggested that they be limited to a maximum of
\n10,000 people. In the past, rallies of tens of thousands, or even
\nhundreds of thousands of people, were not uncommon.<\/p>\n
Other commission members said rulings limiting the size of
\ngatherings and prohibiting street rallies, as were affected in
\nthe 1997 polls, were unfair to new parties.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the National Elections Committee, Jacob Tobing,
\nsaid Monday: \"What's important is that campaign sites should be
\nmarked clearly,\" so that supporters could be effectively
\n\"secured\".<\/p>\n
The Code of Conduct stressed that police and political party
\nleaders would be responsible for the safety of supporters
\ntraveling to and from campaign sites.<\/p>\n
In Semarang, residents said they were fearful each weekend in
\nanticipation of party rallies.<\/p>\n
\"Security personnel must be firm to control rallies which
\ndisturb other road users,\" Semarang resident Sulomo said. He said
\npolitical supporters once battered his vehicle with flag staffs
\nto get him to make way.<\/p>\n
\"With only five vehicles, they fill up the road. Besides,
\nthose people often say dirty words to people who don't do what
\nthey demand,\" he added.<\/p>\n
A political party member, Suparno, said police have failed to
\ntake action against such supporters. Businesses in Semarang close
\nwhenever a rally is expected.<\/p>\n
Semarang Police chief Lt. Col. Matius Salempang said the
\nrallies were held without police permission, and were \"wild\".<\/p>\n
He denied that police took no action, saying he had urged
\nparty leaders to control their members and supporters. (rms\/har)<\/p>",
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