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)