KPU may slap ban on Mega

KPU may slap ban on Mega

M. Taufiqurrahman and Oyos Saroso HN, Jakarta/Bandarlampung

The incumbent Megawati Soekarnoputri may become the first
presidential candidate to be banned from campaigning, the General
Elections Commission (KPU) confirmed on Monday when it upheld the
Bali General Elections Commission's decision (KPUD).

"We give them three days to counter the accusation that state
officials were involved in their last Bali campaign, or else the
ban will take effect (by Tuesday)," KPU deputy chief Ramlan
Surbakti said, referring to Megawati and her running mate Hasyim
Muzadi.

The KPUD issued over the weekend a ruling banning the pair
from holding open-air campaigns on the resort island after it
found the pair's team had involved state officials, thereby
violating the presidential election law.

Other presidential candidates have also sought to worm their
way out of the election rules, such as doing charity work "in
their individual capacity." However the incumbent has the added
opportunity of using her presidential visits across the country.

The reprimand against Megawati-Hasyim was the first issued by
the KPUD Bali in the campaign period from June 1 through to July
1.

Bali is the stronghold of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI-P) under which Megawati is running and the ruling
faces potential resistance. The ban would take effect from June
13 to the end of the campaign period.

Last Friday, Megawati's team staged a campaign in Debes
village, Tabanan regency, which was attended by village heads,
dozens of Tabanan regency officials, Badung Regent AA Ngurah Oka
Ratmadi and Klungkung Regent Wayan Chandra.

The violation came to light after the KPUD found that
invitations to the campaign were sent by a local organization,
the Balinese People Movement (Garba) chaired by Tabanan Regent
Adi Wiryatama.

KPUD chairman IGP Artha said that Garba members had admitted
their inclusion on Megawati's Bali team.

Separately in Lampung, the KPUD demanded clarification over
whether Megawati's visit to the province on Tuesday was in her
capacity as incumbent President or presidential candidate.

Megawati and her husband Taufik Kiemas are to receive honorary
titles from the Lampung community, "for their contribution to the
province's development", organizers said. They insisted that she
was invited in her individual capacity, not as president.

However, she was also slated to greet her supporters during an
open-air campaign in the provincial capital, Bandar Lampung. "If
she is found to be campaigning during a state visit we will
definitely take action," said KPUD member Edwin Hanibal.

He said that it would be better if Megawati postponed her
visit to the province.

In the East Java town of Kediri, a joint team of the KPUD, the
Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) and the city police
dissolved an event organized by the Megawati-Hasyim team, saying
that it was not a scheduled event.

Member of the local Panwaslu Imam Subaweh was quoted by Antara
as saying that although the event was aimed at distributing free
medication to the poor, it also involved the distribution of
campaign material.