Councilor queries limit on supporters

JAKARTA (JP): A councilor said the election rule limiting supporters at a campaign site to only those living in the mayoralty was absurd.

Sahala P. Sinaga, secretary to the city chapter of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), said yesterday, it would be impossible for police to determine where a supporter came from.

"Police would have difficulty checking all those people," Sahala said.

Thousands of people at one site are expected to be in "general assemblies" which are held in open places, where "healthy entertainment" is allowed. "Mass gatherings" are to be held in open and closed spaces. Transporting supporters is also expected to involve crowds.

Sahala added that, unlike subdistrict campaigns, district and mayoralty campaign levels would involve transporting a great number of supporters for the mass gatherings.

The 27-day campaign period has been set from April 27 to May 23, with each contestant campaigning nine times, once every three days.

In order to transport supporters safely, PDI has trained 500 task force members. He also said, they are required to anticipate areas that could be riot-prone during campaigning such as Pademangan and Penjaringan districts in North Jakarta and Matraman in East Jakarta. (11)