Articles on 'no-voting' questioned

Fri, 07 Feb 2003, 00:00 WIB | Source: JP

JAKARTA: Analysts and politicians rejected on Thursday the
inclusion of articles on criminalizing campaigners not exercising
voting rights, in the election bill currently being debated by
the House.

Syamsuddin Haris of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences
(LIPI) and Tomi Legowo of the Center for Strategic and
International Studies (CSIS) called for a clear definition of
campaigners.

"Since this law will be applicable to all people, there must
be a clearer definition," Tomi said here on Thursday.

Both Tomi and Syamsuddin emphasized that not attending a
general election was within everyone's rights.

Meanwhile, chairman of the Indonesian United Democracy Party
(PUDI) Sri Bintang Pamungkas said the inclusion of these articles
indicated that the current regime was more authoritarian than
former dictator Soeharto.

The articles carry a maximum penalty of one year in jail or a
Rp 10 million fine. -- JP

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