New campaign rules not good enough: PPP

New campaign rules not good enough: PPP

JAKARTA (JP): The United Development Party (PPP) said the
government's decision to lift a ban on political parties
campaigning in rural areas for the May general election was a
small concession because the party could not take full advantage
of it.

The lifting of the ban would benefit Golkar because the ruling
political group had virtually unimpeded access to rural areas,
PPP chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum said on Saturday.

Last month the government introduced new election campaign
regulations. While new restrictions were imposed, the ban on
campaigning in rural areas was lifted.

At first glance this might appear to be a major concession to
the PPP and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), the other
minority party in the three-way election race.

But political parties are still barred from opening offices
beyond the regency level, a 1970s law designed to depoliticize
the rural masses.

"We have no cadres to run our campaigns in villages," Ismail
said after heading a PPP delegation which paid a courtesy call on
former PPP chairman Idham Chalid.

Given the current PPP financial and human resources
conditions, the party would not be able to grab the opportunity
the new rules provided, he said.

"How can the PPP and the PDI fight against Golkar when we have
no chance of introducing our programs to people in villages and
remote areas?" he asked.

Golkar can reach the rural masses because village chiefs are
all Golkar cadres, he pointed out.

The minority parties have no chance in rural areas because
people in villages are afraid to organize political meetings that
do no comply with Golkar policy, he said. "They have no freedom
to express their political aspirations".

The PPP also questioned other clauses in the new election
campaign rules, including the ban on street rallies and the
policy encouraging the use of the electronic media in the
campaign.

Secretary-general Tosari Wijaya feared the government could
use the ban on street rallies to keep PPP supporters from going
to campaign sites.

Tosari also questioned whether the minority parties would get
equal broadcast time on the state television station and radio
stations TVRI and RRI.

The stations have been criticized for giving more coverage to
Golkar. The state broadcasting enterprises fall under the control
of Minister of Information Harmoko, who is chairman of Golkar.

"Golkar has received wide coverage for all its cadres meetings
and consolidation meetings across the country," Tosari said.
(imn)