Govt relaxes rules on election campaigners

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)