Big parties already campaigning

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