Even posters may trigger violence

Even posters may trigger violence

JAKARTA (JP): The placing of posters may provoke physical
clashes between rival activists campaigning in the May election
if it is not properly regulated, Attorney General Singgih warned
yesterday.

Political organizations contesting the May 29 election would
be allocated separate zones to place their posters, Singgih told
a meeting of Armed Forces members at the defense ministry office.

"We should be thinking of a rule on the placement of party
posters, banners and symbols," Singgih said. "We cannot rule out
physical clashes in this year's election."

The United Development Party, Golkar and the Indonesian
Democratic Party will officially begin electioneering on April 27
through to May 23.

To minimize the likelihood of street brawls among activists,
common in the past, the government has banned street rallies.
Campaigning will mostly take the form of indoor and media debates
on parties' programs.

Singgih said he imagined if poster placing was not regulated,
rival activists could easily exchange words and begin hurling
rocks at each other.

"Therefore, each contestant should be given a different place
and date to put up their posters in public places," he said in
the meeting, chaired by Vice President Try Sutrisno.

Also attending the coordination meeting were Minister of
Defense and Security Edi Sudradjat, State Minister of
Administrative Reforms T.B. Silalahi, State Minister/Cabinet
Secretary Saadillah Mursjid and senior military officials.

The government established the zoning system for election
campaigning to prevent the likelihood of the supporters of
different political parties running into each other.

Six campaigning regions have been established. Each of the
contesting political groupings will campaign in two regions a
day.

The three political organizations will vie for 425 seats in
the 500-member House of Representatives. The remaining 75 seats
are reserved for members of the Armed Forces, who do not vote in
the election.

Golkar, with the strong support of the Armed Forces, the
bureaucracy and business, is widely expected to win another
landslide victory.

Singgih called on the Armed Forces to do its best to secure
the month-long campaigns.

Electoral laws say only policemen are authorized to arrest and
take proper action against violators.

Singgih also suggested officials in charge of the general
election set clear-cut guidelines on what constituted a rally and
what must be banned. (imn)