Articles on 'no-voting' questioned

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