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.