Panwaslu accuses PDI-P of polls offense

Panwaslu accuses PDI-P of polls offense

Suherdjoko and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post,
Surakarta/Jakarta

The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has joined
the list of major parties facing allegations of early
campaigning, after the Surakarta Regional Elections Supervisory
Committee (Panwasda) reported it to the police.

Surakarta's Panwasda chairman Nyuwardi said the PDI-P had
committed at least six violations during its anniversary parade
across the Central Java town of Surakarta on Sunday, including
promoting the party's programs, inviting non-members to
participate and placing the party's symbols and flags in public
places.

The town turned red on Sunday as thousands of supporters of
the ruling party marched to celebrate the PDI-P's 31st
anniversary. They also unfurled a banner which read "Megawati for
president".

Nyuwardi said that in its notification letter to the committee
prior to the event, the party had promised not to place flags and
involve non-members.

"It turned out that the party's flags were waved all over the
town and young children, who cannot be party members, were seen
among the crowd wearing the party's T-shirts," he said.

He said he would submit evidence such as photographs, T-shirts
and a video record of the event to the police.

Central Java's Panwasda chief Nur Hidayat Sardini said
elections supervisory committees in Batang, Semarang, Banjar and
Klaten were also considering moves against the PDI-P for alleged
violations of the election regulations.

"We are waiting for their decisions, but so far only Surakarta
has decided to file a report with the police," Nur Hidayat told
The Jakarta Post.

Last week Panwasda office in the West Java town of Bekasi
reported the party to the police for alleged violations of the
election law.

Jakarta's Panwasda office filed a report with the police
against the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the United
Development Party (PPP) on charges of early campaigning when they
held a parade to celebrate their respective anniversary
celebrations earlier this month.

Indonesia's election laws are not specific about the
conditions for early campaigning, providing parties with
loopholes they can exploit. The National Elections Supervisory
Committee (Panwaslu) has admitted the issue was a grey area and
proposed revisions to the election regulations of the General
Elections Commission (KPU) in a bid to prevent different
interpretations of the rules.

PDI-P deputy secretary-general Pramono Anung said the march on
Sunday could not be categorized as early campaigning because of
the absence of political speech.

"They were holding a street parade, there was no speech at
all. For us, that cannot be considered as a violation of the
election regulations," Pramono said.

Another PDI-P figure Taufik Kiemas said Panwaslu had to
clearly spell out what regulations which had been violated during
the parade.

"If we did violate the regulations then we are sorry, but if
we didn't -- then thank God," Taufik said after accompanying his
wife President Megawati in the Archipelago Day commemoration in
Cilegon, West Java.

Surakarta Panwasda official Imron Rosyid told the Post the
office filed a report to the police in a bid to make political
parties aware they had to be more careful when holding mass
events before elections.

"Maybe we cannot prove them wrong, but let the legal process
take its course," Imron said.