Campaign violators must be punished

Campaign violators must be punished

The three-week political campaigning period started on
Thursday with people wondering if the campaigns would proceed
peacefully.

All layers of society must be fully aware that riots or melees
during campaigns will benefit nobody, except the instigators.

The General Elections Commission (KPU) has issued rulings on
campaigns for the political parties and legislative candidates,
as well as for candidates for membership of the Provincial
Representatives Council (DPD). Therefore the KPU, at central,
provincial and regency levels, should step up its cooperation
with local police to monitor the implementation of campaigns.

Law No. 12/2003 was passed to deal with party supporters or
officials who violate the rules on campaigning. However, the law
will amount to nothing if it is weakly enforced.

Just recall the previous (1999) election when thousands of
violations nationwide remained unpunished. Thus we do hope that
the KPU, in cooperation with the police and prosecutor's offices,
will be tougher on any violators and take the cases to court.

-- Suara Larya, Jakarta