KPU urges govt regulation to deter pre-campaign activities

JAKARTA (JP): Members of the General Election Commission have urged the government to issue a regulation banning parties from campaigning before the start of the official campaign period on May 19.

Djuhad Mahdja, who represents the United Development Party (PPP) on the commission, said the regulation was necessary to prevent further clashes breaking out between the supporters of rival parties.

The commission has issued a code of ethics and appealed for parties to refrain from campaigning outside the allotted time, but this has so far proved insufficient to keep party cadres off the streets.

Djuhad pointed out that the commission does not have the authority to sanction parties for campaigning outside the official campaign period, which runs from May 19 to June 4.

Four people died last week when supporters of the PPP and National Awakening Party (PKB) clashed in Jepara, Central Java. Both sets of supporters have claimed provocateurs instigated the violence, but an investigation team has yet to find evidence to support these claims.

"All forms of campaigning, including party gatherings and rallies should be prohibited. The general election law allows the government to introduce such regulations to uphold public order," Djuhad said.

Abdy Kusumanegara, who represents the Muslim Community Awakening Party (PKU) on the commission, said political parties were morally obliged to prevent clashes between their supporters, but acknowledged this was unlikely to prove an effective deterrent.

"The government should give the National Police the authority to take action against all parties campaigning before the beginning of the official campaign period," Abdy said.

However the Chairman of the National Election Committee (PPI), Jacob Tobing, said any such regulation would be provocative and would come too late to rein in enthusiastic party cadres.

"Pre-campaign activities are now under way and it would be difficult for the security forces to put a stop to them...banning them outright would be sure to draw an anarchic reaction," he said.

He argued that it would be better for parties to regulate their own pre-campaign activities and work together to avoid violence.

Jacob, who is also deputy chairman of a research center belonging to the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), said the election commission would revise the electoral code of conduct in order to provide the Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) with authority before and after the campaigning period.

Under the code of conduct passed in early April, the supervisory committee only has authority during the official campaign period.

The amendment will allow the committee to supervise pre- campaign activities and to take action against parties whose supporters are involved in clashes," he said. (rms)