Government warns political parties

JAKARTA (JP): Chairman of the General Election Committee Moch. Yogie S.M. warned political contestants Tuesday against using government facilities in their election campaigns.

"None of the three political contestants are allowed to use government property in the campaign," he told reporters after briefing them on the newly issued government decrees on campaigning rules.

Yogie said the government, as the organizer of the general election, expected the "fiesta of democracy" would be held in an orderly, secure and smooth manner.

"Political parties.. may not commit even minor violations," said Yogie, also the minister of home affairs.

Yogie's call was by no means new as it was also made in previous elections, in which violations were rampant. Political parties -- the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) -- have often criticized the ruling Golkar for being the worst offender in this regard.

Separately Tuesday, PPP deputy chairman Ali Hardi Kiaidemak called on the government to follow through with tight monitoring of the election campaign.

"We hope the government will monitor how Yogie's statement will be implemented," he said.

He cited the use of government-owned cars by Golkar officials during past elections.

"We knew they replaced government offices' red-coated licence plates with black-coated plates (from civilian cars)," said Ali also a member of the Official Election Monitoring Committee.

Campaigning

Regarding the new rules, Yogie reiterated that no more street rallies or convoys of political supporters in trucks or on motorbikes would be allowed in the campaigning period before the general election on May 29.

"Street rallies are now entirely banned," he said, adding that election campaigning could only take the form of public assemblies, media broadcasts, and leaflets, flyers and other printed matter.

The government, insisting that mass rallies used to become violent, decided this year to revise the election campaign rules seeking to reduce mass rallies despite protests by two political parties -- the PPP and the PDI.

The new regulations also stipulate election campaigning is to be conducted in specially designated zones. There will be six campaign regions and each political grouping will campaign in two regions a day during the proposed 27-day campaign period.

Region I is provinces in Sumatra; region II provinces in Java; region III provinces of Bali, West and East Nusa Tenggara and East Timor; region IV provinces in Kalimantan; region V provinces in Sulawesi; and region VI the provinces of Maluku and Irian Jaya.

The zoning system is intended to prevent supporters of one political group from running into another group's supporters, thereby reducing the potential for clashes.

Yogie, however, reiterated the need to maintain alertness. He said public assemblies must be held with proper permits, and it's the responsibility of both security officers and the political contestants to safeguard the events.

He also said that under the new rules, the police have the authority to stop an election campaign gathering should violations occur.

Asked about possible measures to be taken against violators, Yogie said it would depend on the kind of violations. He categorized violations as "administrative, political, or criminal" in nature. He did not elaborate.

The three political organizations will compete in the 1997 general elections. They will vie for 425 seats in the 500-member House of Representatives. The remaining 75 seats are reserved for the Armed Forces, whose members do not vote in elections. (imn)