Panwaslu vows to get tough action on early campaigners
Panwaslu vows to get tough action on early campaigners
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Elections Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) vowed on Friday to
report to police any political parties displaying logos or
election numbers during public gatherings, saying that any
violation of the election campaign regulations should be dealt
with firmly.
Panwaslu chairman Komaruddin Hidayat told a discussion that
political activities organized before the official campaign
period could be categorized as disguised election campaigning.
"If there are political activities that can be considered as
early campaigning, Panwaslu will report to the national police,"
he said.
The official campaign period for legislative elections
scheduled for April 5 would run from March 11 through April 1.
Komaruddin said the 24 parties contesting the 2004 elections
have to abide by guidelines issued by KPU if they want to avoid
being accused of violating campaign regulations when organizing
political activities.
According to KPU guidelines, political activities organized
before the official election campaign period should be strictly
attended by party members, must not display party logos and must
not disturb public order.
According to Komaruddin, political parties have exploited
flaws in campaign regulations for disguised campaigns.
"They (political parties) often try to make use of the gray
areas," said Komaruddin without elaborating.
At least three political parties -- the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the United Development Party
(PPP) and the National Awakening Party (PKB) had been reported to
police for violating KPU recommendations.
PKB Secretary General Syaifullah Yusuf, who also addressed the
discussion, said that his party would make no attempt to stop any
legal process against the party for violating election
regulations.
He also said his party would continue taking advantage of many
loopholes in campaign regulations.
"Yes, the political parties will definitely take advantage of
the flaws," he said without going into detail.
Meanwhile, Endin Soefihara of PPP acknowledged that his party
had been using the party's youth wing for campaigning.
Since the youth wing was not an actual election contestant, he
surmised, there should be no problem if they displayed banners in
public places.
"Fortunately, the logo of the youth group is similar to that
of the PPP," he said during the discussion.
In the discussion, Komaruddin also revealed that the Rectors'
Forum had promised to deploy 160,000 students across the country
to help Panwaslu carry out its job.
The participation of those students, Komaruddin said, would be
very helpful given the fact that Panwaslu did not have staff in
remote villages.
Panwaslu has nine members on its central board, seven at
provincial chapters, five at regency offices, and three at
district levels.