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.