Jakarta happy with no-street campaigns

Jakarta happy with no-street campaigns

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration and all provincial
chapters of political parties contesting the June general
election here praised the General Elections Commission's (KPU)
ruling banning campaign rallies in the streets.

Governor Sutiyoso told reporters on Tuesday he was happy with
KPU's decision as it would limit the possibility of clashes
between party supporters during the street rallies.

"It (the ruling) is very good, indeed. Our present condition
is too vulnerable for any kind of clashes to occur," the three-
star active Army general said.

"I think we should also learn from past experiences, when we
had only three political parties, and street campaigns were
accepted. Then, tension and disturbances were frequent. Today, we
have more contestants than before," Sutiyoso said, referring to
the 48 parties contending the general election.

According to Tongam Tambunan from the city's public order
office, the banning of street campaigns would ease the burden on
his 600 personnel assigned to secure the city during the 16-day
campaign period starting on May 20.

"The possibility of clashes will be bigger as there will be
several parties campaigning in the streets on the same day,"
Sutiyoso has said.

The view held by the governor was repeated by representatives
of the Jakarta chapters of the National Mandate Party (PAN), the
United Development Party (PPP), the Indonesian Democratic Party
(PDI) and the Golkar Party. They all welcomed the KPU ruling,
saying street rallies would only cause public anxiety.

The head of research and development at PAN's Jakarta chapter,
Amir Hamzah, said that rallying on the streets was "useless".

"It would be much better if the campaigning could be carried
out in the form of debates, which would display the ability and
thoughts of the party leaders," Amir said.

For that purpose, he said, PAN's Jakarta chapter has equipped
its members with knowledge of party policies to ready them for
debating campaigns.

Other Jakarta party heads, including PDI's Lukman Mokoginta,
Golkar's Tadjus Sobirin, and PPP's Djafar Badjeber, also
supported the idea of campaigns based on dialog.

"Our party has enough experience in any kind of campaign,
that's why we will follow whatever regulation is passed," Djafar
said.

Separately, the chairman of the Jakarta Chapter of the
Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Punky B. Purwadi,
refused to comment on KPU's decision on the upcoming campaigns.

Shoe polisher Juanto was more outspoken.

He said he preferred to see street campaigns in the city. "For
me, it's just like a party. We can go here and there without
paying (transportation fares). Or we will, instead, get money,"
he said.

Meanwhile, Djafar, in his capacity as chairman of the
Provincial Elections Committee (PPD I) for the city on Tuesday
vowed to make the election registration process easier for
Jakartans.

According to the committee, voter registration in the capital
would be conducted from March 5 to May 5. Djafar said residents
with identification cards that had expired would "still be
allowed" to vote in the polls.

"The move was taken because there are too many Jakartans who
have a lack of awareness of their own private documents," he
said.

However, Djafar said the committee had not yet decided how to
deal with city residents who had no official city-issued
identification.

"We should first consult with the National Elections Committee
(PPI)."

PPD I will inaugurate members of the Regional Elections
Committee (PPD II) in the capital on April 1, the District
Elections Committee (PPK) on April 3, and the Local Elections
Committee (PPS) on the following day. (ind)