Big parties already campaigning

JAKARTA: The Elections Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) again reported on Monday that major political parties had started campaigning, in blatant violation of the Election Law.

The parties were the National Awakening Party (PKB), the Reform Star Party (PBR), Golkar Party and the Indonesian Democratic Party for Struggle (PDI-P).

The official campaign period is from March 11 to April 1 next year.

Topo Santoso, a member of Panwaslu, said that PKB held a mass prayer in Jakarta on Dec. 22, while PBR held a rally, also in Jakarta.

Golkar and PDI Perjuangan were slammed for holding rallies in the Central Java towns of Brebes and Surakarta respectively.

Topo said that Panwaslu had sent strong warning letters to the parties concerned.

Didik Supriyanto, another member of Panwaslu, said that Panwaslu would immediately report violations to the police. Campaigning before the set campaign period is in violation of Article 138 of the Election Law, which carries a maximum sentence of three months imprisonment and a Rp 1 million (US$ 117.6) fine. -- JP