Brutal campaigns not for new voters
Brutal campaigns not for new voters
JAKARTA (JP): An expert has warned teenage voters to avoid
high-tension street campaigns during next year's general election
for safety reason.
Hermawan Sulistyo, a political observer from the National
Institute of Sciences, told a youth meeting on Sunday that
physical violence had reportedly taken place during campaigns
ever since the country's first general election in 1971.
"The most festive scenes of a general election are the vehicle
parades during campaigning.
"From 1971 to 1997, there have been reports of violence during
election campaigns because Indonesians love to fight," Hermawan
told a gathering of about 20 senior high school students at the
North Jakarta mayoralty office.
"Please stay away if you notice physical violence is likely to
happen. Withdrawal does not mean that you're a coward. But you
should think rationally in dealing with the situation," he said.
Organized by the institute for North Jakarta's youth, the one-
day seminar, an introduction to elections during the reform era
for new voters, was supposed to be attended by representatives of
at least 50 high schools.
It remained unknown why only 20 participants came.
Hermawan suggested the students use their rights during the
next poll, in which 107 new political parties would participate.
"You have many choices now. If you want to choose, you must
understand what you choose.
"But if you feel ill-suited with any of the political parties,
you may choose not to choose. It's your right," the proreform
activist said.
Hermawan estimated that 30 million first-time voters would
vote in June's elections.
According to existing laws, those who have the right to vote
are Indonesians at least 17 years old, or already married. (ivy)
JAKARTA (JP): An expert has warned teenage voters to avoid
high-tension street campaigns during next year's general election
for safety reason.
Hermawan Sulistyo, a political observer from the National
Institute of Sciences, told a youth meeting on Sunday that
physical violence had reportedly taken place during campaigns
ever since the country's first general election in 1971.
"The most festive scenes of a general election are the vehicle
parades during campaigning.
"From 1971 to 1997, there have been reports of violence during
election campaigns because Indonesians love to fight," Hermawan
told a gathering of about 20 senior high school students at the
North Jakarta mayoralty office.
"Please stay away if you notice physical violence is likely to
happen. Withdrawal does not mean that you're a coward. But you
should think rationally in dealing with the situation," he said.
Organized by the institute for North Jakarta's youth, the one-
day seminar, an introduction to elections during the reform era
for new voters, was supposed to be attended by representatives of
at least 50 high schools.
It remained unknown why only 20 participants came.
Hermawan suggested the students use their rights during the
next poll, in which 107 new political parties would participate.
"You have many choices now. If you want to choose, you must
understand what you choose.
"But if you feel ill-suited with any of the political parties,
you may choose not to choose. It's your right," the proreform
activist said.
Hermawan estimated that 30 million first-time voters would
vote in June's elections.
According to existing laws, those who have the right to vote
are Indonesians at least 17 years old, or already married. (ivy)