Same-day election campaigns spark clash fear<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto and P.C. Naommy, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
While all 24 political parties have vowed to conduct peaceful
\nelection campaigns, the fear remains of possible clashes, with
\nparties insisting on staging their rallies at the same venues on
\nthe same days.<\/p>\n
The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said on Monday they would
\nhold their open-air campaigns at a popular rallying site -- the
\nBung Karno Sports Complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on March
\n29.<\/p>\n
\"We have to compromise by allowing the PKS to campaign in the
\nmorning and PDI-P in the afternoon,\" said Juri Ardiantoro, a
\nmember of the Jakarta General Election Commission (KPUD Jakarta)
\nin charge of enforcing campaign regulations.<\/p>\n
Both parties usually mobilize thousands of followers in open-
\nair rallies.<\/p>\n
The sports complex is a favorite place for political rallies
\ndue to its strategic location and huge capacity, fitting up to
\n100,000 people inside the main stadium.<\/p>\n
PKS supporters must vacate the stadium at 11:30 a.m., before
\nit was used by PDI-P, Juri said. He did not explain how the KPU
\nwould prevent the two parties' supporters meeting when entering
\nand leaving the complex.<\/p>\n
PKS Jakarta chapter head Ahmad Heriyawan said he would prefer
\nit if his party's supporters did not meet with PDI-P supporters
\nbut PDI-P executives had refused to name an alternative place.<\/p>\n
PDI-P Jakarta Chapter deputy leader Pantas Nainggolan,
\nhowever, was optimistic there would be no clashes between the
\nparties.<\/p>\n
Parties and candidates for the Regional Representatives
\nCouncil (DPD) will begin their rallies in public places in the
\nthird week after the campaign period kicks off on Thursday. In
\nthe first and second weeks, they are only allowed to have closed-
\ndoor meetings.<\/p>\n
KPUD Jakarta chairman Muhamad Taufik also talked down the
\npossibility of violence during the campaign. Parties that had
\ntraditionally strong rivalries would stage rallies at separate
\nvenues, he said.<\/p>\n
The KPUD has prepared hundreds of venues for closed-door
\ncampaigns and 58 places for open-air rallies.<\/p>\n
The campaign period will officially start with 24 parties
\nhoisting their flags in 350 spots across the capital.<\/p>\n
All parties will join a carnival on March 11 on decorated
\nvehicles. The event is likely to cause serious traffic jams as
\nthe parade will pass through major thoroughfares from 8 a.m. to 2
\np.m.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, National Police spokesman, Brig. Gen. Basyir
\nBarwawi said no parties had submitted their campaign schedules as
\nrequested by the Jakarta Police.<\/p>\n
\"We still have three days and I hope they will submit their
\nschedules to enable the police to plan our security measures,\" he
\nsaid. \"It's for the sake of public security.\"<\/p>\n
The National Police will deploy a total of 174,495 personnel
\nthroughout the country on the day of the legislative election on
\nApril 5. From 556,751 available polling booths, 469,173 have been
\nclassified as secure, 57,504 are on low-alert status and 30,175
\nothers are on middle-alert status.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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