KPU rules on campaign zones and agenda

KPU rules on campaign zones and agenda

M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta

After a lengthy scramble between the presidential candidates'
campaign teams over the most rewarding venues and dates, the
General Elections Commission (KPU) completed on Tuesday a
campaign schedule in which the country is divided into five
campaign zones.

The campaign teams gearing up for the country's first direct
presidential election also agreed with the KPU proposal that the
30-day campaign would be divided into five stages, each
consisting of six days.

Which candidates were to campaign in each zone during each
stage was decided upon in a draw, after the teams demanded that
all candidates be granted equal opportunity to introduce
themselves throughout the country.

The campaign period from June 1 to June 30 will have a one-day
break on June 3 when the nation observes the Waisak holiday, the
Buddha's Day of Enlightenment.

On the first day of the campaign, each pair of candidates are
expected to take part in a parade, like the one marking the start
of the legislative election campaign on March 26.

"This will show the public that all presidential candidates
are committed to a peaceful campaign, regardless of their
political differences," KPU member Hamid Awaludin said.

In the first stage of campaign from June 2 through to June 8,
Megawati Soekarnoputri and Hasyim Muzadi under the banner of the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) will campaign in
zone 1 covering Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, North Sumatra, West
Sumatra, Riau and Riau islands, Jambi and South Sumatra.

Hamzah Haz and Agum Gumelar, under the United Development
Party (PPP) banner, will have the advantage of the heavily
populated provinces in zone 2 covering Bengkulu, Lampung, Bangka
Belitung islands, Jakarta, West Java and Central Java.

Gen. (ret) Wiranto and Solahuddin Wahid, under the Golkar
Party banner, will also get the same benefit as they are
scheduled to campaign in zone 3 -- Yogyakarta, East Java, Banten,
Bali, West and East Nusa Tenggara.

Zone 4, which covers the whole of Kalimantan, North and
Central Sulawesi will be traversed by candidates supported by the
National Mandate Party (PAN), Amien Rais and Siswono Yudhohusodo.

Candidates supported by the Democratic Party, the Crescent
Star Party (PBB) and the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKP
Indonesia), Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla, who are
considered the front-runners in the presidential race, will
crisscross the far-flung regions of South and North Sulawesi,
Gorontalo, South and North Maluku and Papua in the first six days
of campaigning.

In the next stages, each pair of candidates will take even
turns in rallying supporters in the designated zones.

KPU deputy chairman Ramlan Surbakti said the zone division was
aimed at avoiding conflict between supporters of different
presidential aspirants.

"Candidates are not allowed to mobilize their supporters
across provincial boundaries," Ramlan said.

In the drawing up of the schedule, all campaign teams agreed
that it would apply only for outdoor campaigns, dialog sessions
and indoor meetings, three of the nine types of campaign methods
authorized in the KPU.

The KPU is also expected to organize debates for the
presidential candidates to be aired by state television station
TVRI and six other private TV stations.