Officials irked by party paraphernalia

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The city administration told political parties on Thursday not to place their flags and banners in public places before the campaign period for the 2004 General Election begins in March.

Public order agency head Soebagio confirmed that placing such articles without the consent of the city administration was a violation of Bylaw No. 11/1988 on public order.

"The public order officers have the authority to take away all paraphernalia belonging to political parties that is placed in public places," he told reporters at his office.

He said that roads and parks, especially those situated in the main thoroughfares, were among the paraphernalia-free sites.

Soebagio claimed the agency had confiscated at least 23 poles and flags belonging to some political parties in raids over the past two weeks. He declined to name the parties.

"We will continue to remove such paraphernalia from public areas in coming weeks," he added.

However, he said, the agency had yet to report the violation to the Elections Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu), which has the right to impose sanctions on defiant parties.

The existing law stipulates that a political party is only allowed to set up banners, flags and the like, in the area around a venue where it is holding a meeting or other activities. In addition, he added, the party is allowed to place flags and banners at its headquarters or branch offices.

On Tuesday, Panwaslu reported the United Development Party (PPP) and the National Awakening Party (PKB) to the Central Jakarta Police for campaign violations.

In a march on Jan. 4, the PPP members were allegedly distributing stickers bearing the slogan "Vote for the PPP", the party's logo and its election number.

The PKB held a similar march on Dec. 28, 2003. Although the participants did not distribute election paraphernalia, they wore party attributes and marched along main thoroughfares.

Samples of the PPP stickers along with newspaper clippings were submitted as evidence.

Article 138 of the Election Law stipulates that those found guilty of campaigning before the official campaign period between March 11 and April 1 could face a maximum sentence of three months in jail and a Rp 1 million (US$117.6) fine.

The law provides for brief court proceedings in such cases, with a verdict being required within 30 days of a complaint being made to the police.