Government rejects televised electioneering

Government rejects televised electioneering

JAKARTA (JP): The government has quashed a suggestion that
television stations be permitted to air election campaign
commercials, saying it is against existing rules.

Promotional flicks for religious purposes, for political
purposes and for individuals are not allowed, according to
Dewabrata, the director general for radio, film and television at
the Ministry of Information.

"They are against the existing regulations on advertising," he
was quoted by Antara as saying yesterday.

He promised, however, that the state television station TVRI
and the five private television stations will allocate adequate
airtime to the three political contestants for the 1997 general
election. The contestants are the ruling Golkar, the Moslem-based
United Development Party and the Indonesian Democratic Party.

The actual time allotments and what will be broadcast will be
discussed further with the General Election Committee, he said.

Last week Abdullah Alatas Fahmi, a former executive of the TPI
television station and a leading member of Golkar, suggested that
television stations be allowed to run election campaign
advertisements.

He argued that political commercials would be better than the
traditional mass mobilization of supporters for street rallies.
He said that television stations in a number of developed
countries, particularly the United States, have long sold airtime
to politicians and political parties.

"Just like ordinary commercials, political commercials can be
used to net as many voters as possible," he said. (swe)