Eight parties violate campaign rules

TANGERANG: Eight political parties have violated campaign regulations since the start of campaign period on March 11, the Tangerang Elections Monitoring Committee (Panwaslu) said.

"We have sent written complaints to the Tangerang General Elections Commission (KPUD) about the infractions. The KPUD has the authority to take stern measures against them," said poll watch deputy chairman Syafril Elain on Wednesday.

He said the parties had violated the committee decrees on legislative election campaigning. Those found guilty would be fined between Rp 100,000 (US$11) and Rp 1 million and banned from joining open-air campaigning.

The eight parties are the Nation Mandate Party (PAN), the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the National Awakening Party (PKB), the Golkar Party, Pancasila Patriots' Party, Democratic Party, United Development Party (PPP) and the Reform Star Party (PBR).

The PBR went against its campaign schedule by holding a campaign a day early. The other seven breached traffic regulations and took underage children to campaign activities. -- JP