Course for election officers

JAKARTA (JP): A two-day course for officers in charge of overseeing the election procedures began yesterday in Sunter, North Jakarta.

Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Idroes, reading Governor Surjadi Soedirdja's opening address, told the 232 participants to pay special attention to the campaigning period from April 27 to May 23.

He also told participants to give equal treatment to all contestants: Golkar, the United Development Party and the Indonesian Democratic Party. The two parties have charged Golkar with unfair election practices.

"Equal treatment means all (contestants) have the same rights and obligations to support an election of high quality," Surjadi said.

The course covers election procedures such as vote counting and lectures on recent social and political developments. A representative of the City Police will lecture on safeguarding campaigns and vote counting.

R.Bagus Suharyono, head of the city's social and political office, said scheduled lecturers also included those from the City Military Headquarters and the Prosecutor's Office.

The course ends today. (anr)