Govt relaxes rules on election campaigners
JAKARTA (JP): The government, already under fire for its election policy that critics say benefits Golkar, is relaxing the rules governing election campaigners.
After meeting with leaders of the three political parties contesting the May 29 election, government officials said campaigners would be free to address gatherings as soon as they were registered with the General Elections Institute.
Previously campaigners were ordered to obtain police permits before they would be allowed to address any gathering.
The coming election will be between the dominant political grouping Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).
"The campaigners will not have to obtain police approval before they can deliver speeches as long as the content has been approved by the government," institute secretary-general Suryatna Subrata said.
He said that campaigners would be divided into three categories according to administrative levels: national, provincial and regency.
"Campaigners registered as national level representatives can deliver speeches at any administration levels, while provincial level campaigners can speak either at provincial or regency forums.
"Regency level campaigners will only be allowed to speak at regency and mayoralty-level forums."
He said that the contestants would have to submit their lists of campaigners to the election institute before they could take part in the campaign.
Suryatna, who is also secretary-general of the Home Affairs Ministry, said the three contestants agreed that they would each be given four hours every evening during the campaign to display posters, leaflets, and other printed publications in public places.
"Displaying posters, leaflets and other printed publications will only be allowed from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. during the 27-day campaign period," he said.
Asked what the government would do to minimize clashes between supporters of different contestants, Suryatna said the displaying of the printed materials would be arranged by the police, while distribution of campaign sites would be decided by local administration heads.
Campaigning will be restricted to the period between April 27 and May 23. May 24 to May 28 is a "cooling-off period" in which no public political activity is allowed.
Suryatna said the three political contestants agreed that during the cooling-off period, the contestants would be allowed to hold internal, closed meetings.
"Each political contestant will be allowed to hold party meetings. But they can only include speeches from party members," he said. Inviting outsiders to address such a gathering would not be allowed.
Suryatna said public discussions on the election campaign regulations would also not be forbidden. "Today's meeting was the last meeting," he said.
The campaign regulations are contained in Presidential Decree No. 99/1996 and Government Regulation No. 74/1996, both issued last December. (imn)