Authorities to remove political banners from major streets
Authorities to remove political banners from major streets
JAKARTA (JP): City authorities will remove banners placed by
political parties along major streets because the areas are
officially off-limits to the displays, an official said on
Thursday.
Banners will be taken down in designated "white areas" where
displays, except for government purposes, are prohibited, said
the head of public facility orderliness of the city public order
office, Tonni Boediono.
He said banner owners failed to notify the city of their
placement.
"We will start removing the banners as soon as possible. We
are preparing the action now."
Tonni identified white areas as the National Monument (Monas)
park and along Jl. Thamrin in Central Jakarta, and Jl. Sudirman
and the Semanggi cloverleaf in South Jakarta.
Hundreds of National Mandate Party (PAN) banners and at least
one of the ruling Golkar grouping, which expressed Idul Fitri
greetings, have been displayed along Jl. Thamrin and Jl.
Sudirman.
PAN's blue-and-white banners encircle the farmers' statue near
Jl. Prapatan and Jl. Arif Rahman Hakim in Central Jakarta.
The head of City Council Commission A for administrative and
public order affairs, Hotma Tambunan, warned the authorities of a
"possible war of political banners" in the capital as the June
general election nears.
He believed their indiscriminate placement would be an
eyesore.
"They should make preparations to put the banners in order as
such a policy has been regulated. If not, it is feared their
presence will detract from the city's beauty."
Hotma said the authorities should soon promote awareness of
regulations on the issue.
"I am afraid that if the administration does not take the
proactive step, political parties will display their banners
wherever they like.
"We have clear regulations on the issue. The officials are
just needed to improve their control. I hope that they will take
proper action immediately after they find transgressions and
avoid discrimination."
Contacted by The Jakarta Post, PAN's deputy secretary-general
Santoso admitted the party had not sought permits, "but the
administration has never promoted the regulation and we observed
that there were also all kinds of banners in the areas in the
past".
He claimed advertising banners were common in the area.
"We will abide by the regulation prohibiting banner displays
in certain areas if it is fair and without discrimination. I also
question why in the past the administration never implemented the
regulation.
"I hope the administration will not only enforce the policy
because they are PAN's banners."
Last June, the administration made a similar move to crack
down on banners with political messages, especially those calling
for an investigation into president Soeharto's wealth and a trial
for alleged abuse of power during his 32-year rule. (ind)