Committee looks into early campaigning

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: Southeast Sulawesi's Elections Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) has been investigating since January alleged early campaigning by seven candidates for the Regional Representative Council (DPD).

As of Tuesday, all seven of the candidates had been questioned. The seven were identified as Hayani Imbu, Yokohama Sinapoy, La Ode Mizani, Husen Taliasa, La Ode Ida, Andi Muhammad Thamrin and Arsyad Abdullah.

"After the investigation, we found the seven guilty of early campaigning," said Tibe Hafid, chairman of Southeast Sulawesi's Panwaslu.

Campaigning for the DPD officially begins on March 11.

Tibe said the seven candidates were found to have handed out posters, stickers and calendars bearing their photographs, which is seen as a form of campaigning.

Although they violated the elections law, Panwaslu will not file a complaint with the police, opting instead simply to reprimand the guilty parties.

"They have signed statements promising not to violate the law again. If there are anymore violations, we will report them to the police," Tibe said. -- JP