Campaign rule breaches increase in second week

Campaign rule breaches increase in second week

M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta

In the second week of the month-long presidential campaign, the Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) recorded an increase in the number of violations committed by all presidential candidates.

Panwaslu said on Wednesday it registered a total of 72 infractions committed by all presidential candidates, a substantial increase from 54 in the first week of campaigning.

The official supervisory committee said the number of violations surged as the candidates' campaign teams grew stronger.

"The campaign intensity rose steadily following the formation of campaign teams at the provincial, regental and municipal level," Panwaslu deputy chairman Saut Sirait said.

Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) candidates the incumbent President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Hasyim Muzadi remained on top of the standings with 25 offenses, comprising 23 administrative and two criminal infractions -- a major increase from eight violations the week before.

The incumbency has greatly contributed to violations committed by the campaign team, Panwaslu said.

Data from the committee recorded that the pair were given reprimands by a number of local Panwaslu for the inclusion of state officials, such as regents and village heads, in rallies.

Earlier, Minister for Religious Affairs Said Agiel Al Munawar was rebuked by the General Elections Commission (KPU) for campaigning on Megawati's behalf without taking official leave.

Earlier Bali Panwaslu had banned Megawati from holding open- air rallies on the resort island, after a joint team comprising the Bali General Elections Commission (KPUD), the official supervisory committee and Tabanan City Police discovered their gatherings were attended by regents and village heads.

Law No. 23/2003 on presidential elections bans state officials from campaigning without leave but it does not say whether their presence in a rally is a violation.

The law stipulates that errant state officials will face administrative penalties from their respective superiors.

Golkar Party's Wiranto and Solahuddin Wahid came second with 18 violations, mostly the display of banners in campaign-free zones.

National Mandate Party (PAN) leader Amien Rais and Siswono Yudohusodo were third with 11 violations, ranging from illegal display of banners to insulting an elderly statesmen.

The Democratic Party's Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-Jusuf Kalla and Hamzah Haz-Agum Gumelar of the United Development Party (PPP) were joint fourth, each with 10 infractions.

Panwaslu also recorded that most breaches of campaign regulations took place in Central Java with 13 violations, followed by Maluku, which saw 10 violations and West Java with nine cases.

Since campaigning began on June 1, Panwaslu has recorded a total of 126 offenses.