Susilo-Mega spat, much ado about nothing<\/p>\n
Moch. N. Kurniawan and Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post,
\nJakarta\/Surabaya<\/p>\n
For 20 days starting next week, members of President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri's Cabinet will devote their time to their
\nrespective parties rather than state duties.<\/p>\n
The General Elections Commission (KPU) has registered
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri, Vice President Hamzah Haz,
\nMinister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra,
\nCoordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo
\nBambang Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare
\nJusuf Kalla, Minister of Research and Technology M. Hatta
\nRadjasa, Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea,
\nMinister of Settlement and Regional Infrastructure Soenarno,
\nMinister of Social Bachtiar Chamsyah as campaigners.<\/p>\n
KPU also registered People's Consultative Assembly Speaker
\nAmien Rais and House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung as
\ncampaigners.<\/p>\n
The state officials will campaign for their respective parties
\nduring the campaign period from March 11 through April 1.<\/p>\n
Megawati, Nuwa Wea and Soenarno will campaign for the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party for Struggle (PDI-P), Hamzah and
\nBachtiar for the United Development Party (PPP), Amien and Hatta
\nfor the National Mandate Party (PAN), Yusril for the Crescent
\nStar Party (PBB) and Susilo for the Democratic Party.<\/p>\n
Former president Abdurrahman Wahid will campaign for the
\nNational Awakening Party (PKB).<\/p>\n
While the schedule for PDI-P leader Megawati is being
\narranged, PPP leader Hamzah, Golkar leader Akbar and PKB founder
\nAbdurrahman have confirmed their trip to East Java on the first
\nday of the campaign period.<\/p>\n
\"Pak Akbar will address Golkar supporters at Tambaksari
\nStadium in Surabaya on March 11,\" the treasurer of Golkar's East
\nJava chapter, Anwar Kusuma, said.<\/p>\n
Akbar's competitors in the Golkar convention for the selection
\nof its sole presidential candidate Wiranto, Jusuf Kalla, Prabowo
\nSubianto, Abu Rizal Bakrie and Surya Paloh will also campaign in
\nEast Java on the opening day of the campaign period.<\/p>\n
Chairman of PPP's East Java chapter Masjkur Hasyim said Hamzah
\nwould kick off his campaign in Situbondo, one of Nahdlatul
\nUlama's strongholds.<\/p>\n
KPU campaign regulations stipulate that state officials have
\nto take leave from state duties during the campaign period.<\/p>\n
The government is also drafting a regulation which will
\nrequire the ministers, governors, regents and other officials to
\ntake leave if they are to campaign.<\/p>\n
Under Law No. 12\/2003 on general elections, election campaigns
\nmust not involve Supreme Court justices, Constitutional Court
\njudges, ordinary court judges, the chairman, deputy chairman and
\nmembers of the State Audit Agency (BPK), the Bank Indonesia
\ngovernor, senior deputy governor and deputy governors, officials
\nof state\/provincial\/regental companies and village heads.<\/p>\n
State officials are restricted from using state facilities,
\nexcept security from the presidential detail for the president
\nand vice president. State facilities include official cars, state
\nbuildings, houses, state radio and television station.<\/p>\n
According to Government Regulation No. 9\/2004 on election
\ncampaigns for state officials issued on Feb. 25, 2004, the
\ncampaign schedule of the president and vice president must be
\nsubmitted by the state secretariat to the KPU seven days before
\nthe campaign starts.<\/p>\n
The campaign schedule of ministers arranged by the state
\nsecretariat must also be conveyed to the KPU seven days before
\nthe campaign period begins.<\/p>\n
If a minister becomes a party campaigner, the president will
\ntake over his\/her duty and can appoint an interim minister.<\/p>",
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