Ban on Megawati has little effect

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A ban imposed on incumbent President Megawati Soekarnoputri and running mate Hasyim Muzadi from holding further outdoor rallies in Bali will not affect their campaign on the island.

The Bali General Elections Commission (KPUD) said on Thursday the restriction was now considered void as the pair were not scheduled to appear in outdoor rallies on the resort island after June 14, the day when the ban was applied.

KPUD chairman Anak Agung Gede Oka Wisnu Murti said after a meeting with KPU member Hamid Awaluddin here, the Megawati team had organized outdoor rallies on designated dates between 9 June and 14 June.

"Afterwards, they will be given the freedom to hold other types of campaigns until July 1," he said.

The KPUD chairman had come to Jakarta to present evidence the Megawati campaign was in breach of election regulations by involving state officials in recent Bali rallies.

Among the evidence he presented was an invitation from the Balinese People's Movement (Garba) to local government officials to attend the rally. Garba organized the ticket's last legislative election campaign in Bali. Agung also presented a written statement from the local General Elections Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu), recommending the candidates should be penalized.

Earlier, KPU member Mulyana W. Kusumah said the Bali KPUD had failed to follow proper procedures in imposing the ban and insisted it be revoked.

He said the campaign did not cause a disturbance, which would have warranted a ban, and nobody from rival campaign teams had filed complaints about the outdoor rally.

Hamid, meanwhile, said the Bali KPUD had complied with the campaign regulations and said the KPU had never lifted the restriction.

However, he admitted the ban would now not have to be imposed.