Nationwide campaign for election system begins

Nationwide campaign for election system begins

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post,
Jakarta

President Megawati Soekarnoputri launched on Monday a joint
nationwide campaign with the General Elections Commission (KPU)
to introduce the new electoral system to ensure the success of
the 2004 general elections.

Saying that the country would hold its first ever direct
presidential election in 2004, Megawati said it was important for
the information dissemination process to begin as early as
possible.

"We want to make sure that as many people as possible will
participate in the coming elections, so it can give true
legitimacy to the next leader," Megawati said in the ceremony.

She underlined that the campaign was not meant to support any
particular political party, but was purely to ensure the success
of the elections.

"It is in the interest of the government to see that the
upcoming elections will succeed, as it is a government program,"
she stressed.

Megawati has been nominated by her Indonesian Democratic Party
of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) as its sole presidential candidate.

KPU chairman Nazaruddin Syamsuddin said the public campaign
would be conducted through the media, such as television and
radio, and through information dissemination activities involving
regional administration heads.

He said the information dissemination program would be carried
out in three stages starting Sept. 2003, and would last until
Oct. 2004.

"The first stage will run from September through December this
year, with the main agenda of introducing the new electoral
system and the KPU.

"From February through April (2004), we will disseminate
information about the legislative election and from May through
October, about the two-stage presidential election," he said.

During the campaign, the KPU would be supported by regional
administrations, which would organize public forums for KPU
members to explain the new electoral system to locals.

Indonesia will hold its legislative election in April 2004 and
two-stage direct presidential election in July and September.

Mock elections organized by the Center for Electoral Reform
(Cetro) across the country suggested that most people, did not
understand how the new electoral system worked.

Under the new Election Law, ballot papers for next year's
legislative and presidential elections would bear not only
symbols of political parties, but also the names and photographs
of candidates.

Many have suggested that voters would be confused by the new
system, as each ballot paper would consist of many candidates.
With over 20 political parties expected to contest the elections,
the country might see long ballot papers.

Nazaruddin also introduced the electoral mascot, a ballot-box
cartoon character with eyes, ears and limbs.

The election also has a theme song, which was aired on
television and radio stations nationwide starting Monday.

"There will be 145 million potential voters, and we hope to
ensure that as many people as possible join the coming
elections," Nazaruddin said.

Separately, House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Akbar
Tandjung welcomed the launch of the nationwide public awareness
campaign on the general elections.

He said the campaign would help the people understand the new
electoral system and its implementation.

"The success of the election depends on the participation of
the people," Akbar said at the opening of the House's new session
on Monday.