Rights body calls for fair election<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights urged
\nthe three parties Saturday to ensure an honest and fair election
\nto facilitate democratization.<\/p>\n
The commission's secretary-general, Baharuddin Lopa,
\ncriticized the United Development Party (PPP), Golkar and the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI) for breaking the law.<\/p>\n
He said violations included alleged poll-rigging attempts by
\nGolkar in Bengkulu and Lampung, and Golkar-affiliated
\norganizations' "operation dawn" to provide food and drinks to
\npeople in Golkar-unfriendly areas before they go to polling
\nstations on May 29.<\/p>\n
"Such practices violate freedoms of speech and expression," he
\ntold a press conference. He said the parties should obey all
\ncampaign rules.<\/p>\n
"Everybody should realize that winning the election through
\nsuch means (cheating) will only violate the meaning of
\ndemocratization," he said.<\/p>\n
He called for proper legal sanctions against campaign and
\nelection rule violators to educate people on politics. He said
\nthe increasing violence committed by supporters of the three
\nparties had violated the public's right to freedom from fear.<\/p>\n
Lopa questioned the government's decision to ban banners and
\nposters on the alliance between supporters of ousted PDI chief
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri and the PPP.<\/p>\n
"If the banners were made by people's initiative, why should
\nwe disagree with their aspirations?" he asked.<\/p>\n
The government banned the banners and pictures last week for
\nbreaching election rules and an agreement between the three
\nparties. The government is planning to strengthen the ban with a
\npresidential decree.<\/p>\n
The PPP, Golkar -- which has been in power since 1971 -- and
\nthe PDI will vie for 425 seats in the 500-seat House of
\nRepresentatives. The remaining 75 seats are reserved for the
\nArmed Forces, whose members do not vote.<\/p>\n
PPP deputy secretary-general Bachtiar Chamsyah said Saturday
\nthat his party had discovered two more poll-rigging attempts. One
\nwas an instruction from the Ministry of Education's East Jakarta
\noffice to headmasters of state and private high schools to
\npersuade students to vote Golkar.<\/p>\n
The other case involved the reported intimidation of a PPP
\nactivist by a subdistrict head in Indragiri Hilir regency, Riau.
\nThe activist had been threatened with violence unless he
\nrelinquished his PPP membership. (05\/imn)<\/p>",
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