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)