Code of conduct needed to avoid campaign violence

Code of conduct needed to avoid campaign violence

By Edith Hartanto

JAKARTA (JP): Political observers are making urgent calls for
the establishment of a code of conduct for election campaigning,
scheduled for May 15 until June 4, to avoid clashes between
supporters of the 48 poll contestants.

Miriam Budiardjo and Amir Santoso from the University of
Indonesia, Andi A. Mallarangeng from the Hasanuddin University in
Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, and Ichlasul Amal of Gadjah Mada
University in Yogyakarta separately agreed that, democracy
notwithstanding, 48 parties were too many.

They also agreed that banning street rallies, while
encouraging public debates, would help to curb the possibility of
election-related violence.

"The first strategy for... a peaceful poll is to set up a
joint code of conduct for three phases: before the elections, the
balloting day, and for the period after elections," Amir said.

He said the government should establish an agreement with
party leaders at both provincial and regency levels to decide
what can and cannot be done in the period around the elections.

"It's important for all parties to... agree on the same rules
of the game and on the penalties available," he said.

Andi agreed that specific rules have to be set up as it would
not be possible for all 48 parties to stage rallies in such a
short time. "We used to have only three poll contestants... now,
of course, we cannot implement the same campaign arrangement,"
Andi said.

The recently disbanded Team of Eleven -- which was in charge
of selecting poll contestants -- has drafted a set of
recommendations to the future National Elections Committee (KPU),
including one stating that mass mobilization should be avoided.

Miriam, who was also on the team, warned that parties must
accept defeat gracefully, while Amal said it was more important
to boost participation in the June 7 elections.

The following are some of the experts' suggestions to the
government, poll organizers and political parties:

* A joint code of conduct, which also includes details on
penalties.

* No mass mobilization or rallies; rather, parties can
campaign through public debates in the media.

* If a dialog is to be conducted in front of a large audience,
it should take place in a suburban area to prevent the
possibility of unrest and vandalism. In addition, security forces
should be deployed to safeguard the event, Amir said.

* Parties must encourage their supporters to exercise self
restraint. In the event of unrest, punishment must be applied,
Andi said. "For instance, a party could be disqualified from the
poll if its supporters initiated a riot," he said. "Parties must
not wash their hands of these things. Think of this as a football
game with a referee and clear penalties."

* Caution should be used in areas considered to be the
strongholds of certain parties, Amir suggested. In Madura Island
in East Java, for instance, there is a "Kampong PPP (United
Development Party)" and a "Kampong PDI (Indonesian Democratic
Party)".

Such labeling should be avoided as it would lead to greater
danger of conflicts in the multi-party elections.

* The presence of poll monitors and foreign observers should
be arranged in such a way so as to avoid disputes, Andi said.
"It's a matter of space... a polling station is usually a small
place, how can it be crowded by too many (monitors)? So I think
they should take turns in monitoring the polls."

* In addition to party symbols and names, pictures of party
presidential candidates must be attached to the balloting paper,
Amal said. "This is important because too many parties cause
confusion," he said.

* Parties must present the public with concrete political
programs, Amal said.

* Relax. Miriam and Amir noted that to help ease tensions, the
government, the public and political parties should remember that
"elections are not a matter of life and death. People have to
learn that losing is normal."

The political observers also recommended special treatment
during elections for areas which have been rocked by unrest
recently.

For instance, a special election area may be needed in Maluku
and its capital of Ambon, according to Amal. "If the security
forces could establish a buffer zone to reduce tension, why not
do the same thing for the elections?"

Amal cited the 1955 multi-party elections when many provinces
at that time were considered to be strongholds of rebellion and
separatist movements.

The separatist fighters for the DI/TII Islamic state, for
instance, ruled provinces such as West Java, Sulawesi, Aceh and
Sumatra at the time. "But still in those areas polling was held
normally. So why not now?"

Both Amir and Andi agreed on this point.

"No matter how small the votes will be (in those areas), their
aspirations have to be heard. The same thing goes for Banyuwangi,
Pontianak, Sambas, Aceh and all other areas hit by riots," Andi
said.