KPU draft instruction on election campaign hailed

KPU draft instruction on election campaign hailed

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Politicians hailed a draft instruction on campaigning issued by
the General Elections Commission (KPU) that will require
electoral candidates to discuss with the commission the types and
numbers of advertisement they are allowed to place in the mass
media.

Firman Jaya Daeli of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) emphasized, however, that the views of
electoral candidates should be heard.

"I think all electoral candidates should talk about this
matter first ... In this case, the KPU is required to be a
facilitator and to hear input from electoral candidates," he told
The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

He said the KPU should also discuss the issue with the mass
media to ensure equal opportunity for electoral candidates to
promote their platforms in the mass media.

There have been fears that political parties armed with more
funds could dominate campaigns by buying up advertising space and
slots in print and electronic media.

The KPU published on Friday a draft instruction on campaigning
to seek feedback from the public before the draft is to be passed
in December. It aims to ensure equal opportunity for election
participants to advertise in the media, as ruled in the Election
Law.

Hamdan Zoelva of the Crescent Star Party (PBB) said the KPU
should play a central role in providing equal opportunity for all
electoral candidates to advertise in the mass media.

"Surely the KPU must listen to electoral candidates to
regulate campaigning in the mass media, but the final word is the
commission's," he said.

He said the KPU should, for example, firmly decide on maximum
advertising space and airtime to be allotted to electoral
candidates and prohibit an electoral candidate from acquiring
advertisement slots allocated to other electoral candidates.

"The unused advertisement slot of an electoral candidate can
be taken over by businesses, but not by other electoral
candidates. This is the spirit of equality," Hamdan said.

The commission also issued on Friday another draft instruction
on guidelines for legislative candidates.

The election campaign period is scheduled for three weeks in
March next year prior to the general election on April 5.

Indosiar TV station spokesman Andreas Ambesa said his company
would accept the KPU's schedule on campaigning in the mass media.

"We will treat political parties like other users during the
campaign period. If a ruling bans a party from taking over other
parties' unused slots we will accept it. Our life does not depend
on political parties' advertisements," he said.

An official at Metro TV station refused to comment, saying the
KPU's instructions had not yet been passed.

Regarding the definition of campaigning, both Firman and
Hamdan said the object of a campaign should not be limited to
nonparty cadres as it was difficult to distinguish between party
and nonparty cadres during a campaign.

"It is better to say a campaign is an activity by parties to
woo voters with party programs," Hamdan said.

Some 145 million people are expected to exercise their right
to vote in next year's elections.