An outline of campaign guidelines
An outline of campaign guidelines
JAKARTA (JP): The United Development Party (PPP) and the
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) have grudgingly accepted the
government-set rules on campaigning, while Golkar wholeheartedly
embraced the rules.
It was decided, for instance, that street rallies and
motorcades, which were the highlight of previous election
campaigns, would be banned.
Electioneering may now only take the form of public
assemblies, media broadcasts, and through the distribution of
materials such as posters, placards, leaflets and brochures,
slides, films, videocassettes, banners, paintings and other
printed materials.
Furthermore, the government uses two terms for public
assemblies -- namely rapat umum (large, outdoor public
assemblies) and pertemuan umum (smaller, indoor or outdoor
meetings for discussion, seminars, symposiums or workshops).
The following is an excerpt of the campaign guidelines:
* Campaigning is to be conducted in specially designated
zones. The regulation divides the country into six campaign
regions; each day during the proposed 27-day campaign period,
each political grouping is to campaign in two regions.
Region I is for provinces in Sumatra; region II for provinces
in Java; region III for provinces of Bali, West and East Nusa
Tenggara and East Timor; region IV for provinces in Kalimantan;
region V for provinces in Sulawesi; and region VI for provinces
in Maluku and Irian Jaya.
* Public assemblies may be held between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
local time. The number of participants from the general public
should be adjusted to the capacity of the indoor/outdoor spaces.
* Contestants' activists have between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. to
hang or post campaign materials such as banners, posters, flags
or placards.
* Prior to campaigning, contestants' leaders must first notify
police of the form, timeframe and location of the activities.
* The themes and material for campaign speeches should be in
line with the State Policy Guidelines, the law and the state
ideology Pancasila.
* During the campaign period, no one may question the
existence of nor misuse, manipulate or undermine Pancasila or the
1945 Constitution. Contestants are prohibited from casting any
doubt on Pancasila and the constitution.
* Contestants are not allowed to slander, defame or undermine
the dignity of the government or its officials, any religions or
belief in God, any groups, organizations, any other countries or
individuals. Nor may they act in any way against Pancasila ethics
and morals.
* Contestants are not allowed to pass judgment, belittle or
disparage the policies of the government, civilian officials or
Armed Forces members.
* No campaign activities may be held at government buildings,
houses of worship, school buildings or hospitals.
* It is forbidden for supporters of any contestants to carry
or use pictures/paintings of individuals. They are allowed only
to display the symbols or attributes of the relevant political
groupings.
* When notifying the police of a planned public assembly, the
political contestants must include a list of the number and types
of vehicles to be used to transport the supporters, name the
venue, the number of people to attend, the time, and the route
taken to and from the site.
* If open trucks are used as a means of transportation, the
vehicles should have sides of at least 0.6 meters high.
Motorcyclists must wear helmets.
* The political contestants are responsible for campaign
activities proceeding in an orderly and peaceful manner. This
includes where supporters initially gather, en route to the site,
when they arrive at the campaign site and when they leave it.
* Police may stop campaign speakers who violate the
guidelines.
* As soon as an activity is over, contestants must remove all
campaign materials and displays within a radius of 500 meters
from the campaign site.
* For broadcasts, contestants must submit a script to be
scrutinized by a team set up by the election committee. They also
must first notify the minister of information.
* Campaign broadcasts are divided into two categories:
prerecorded monologs and debates. Monologs will be aired at least
twice with a duration of 15 minutes, while debates will be aired
seven times at the most for a duration of 30 minutes each.
* In debates -- which may involve 30 people at the most, a
moderator will be appointed. Moderators will be neutral and will
be appointed by the chairman of the election committee.
* Contestants may not campaign through advertisements or
sponsored events on radio or television stations. (swe)