Parties demand officials stay neutral in polls

Parties demand officials stay neutral in polls

JAKARTA (JP): Political parties eligible to contest the June 7
general election have demanded that the city administration
proves its neutrality during the upcoming campaign period as
promised by Governor Sutiyoso.

Representatives of 47 out of the 48 poll contestants said on
Wednesday night that the administration's neutrality was badly
needed to help create peaceful campaign conditions.

Head of the Jakarta chapter of the New Masyumi Party Harun Al
Rasyid said, "So many people don't believe that the city
authorities will treat all parties equally because in previous
elections such a promise was not matched by reality."

"It is now time for the administration to turn this kind of
opinion around," he told a get-together to discuss peaceful
campaigns in the capital ahead of the polls at the City Hall.

The get-together hosted by Sutiyoso was attended by
representatives of all the contesting parties, except one from
the Indonesian Muslim Awakening Party.

Also present at the meeting were the city's high ranking
officials, including military commander Maj. Gen. Djadja
Suparman, police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajusman and all three
deputy governors.

A similar gathering was conducted at the city police
headquarters on Tuesday.

The governor has repeatedly vowed recently that the
administration would be neutral toward the contesting parties.

"I will guarantee that we will be neutral. Just remind me if I
don't fulfill my promise or report to me if you find city
officials who don't treat all parties equally," he said on
Wednesday.

Sutiyoso also asked the party leaders to be responsible for
their own followers in order to prevent any kind of clashes.

A similar promise was also made by Djadja and Noegroho.

Djadja urged the contestants to deploy as few as possible of
their followers in the campaigns to minimize clashes. "I also
urge you to strengthen your parties' task forces as the number of
military personnel is too small for the vast areas that should be
covered."

Sutiyoso also reminded people that the parties were forbidden
from placing their political banners along the main thoroughfares
by themselves for the sake of the city's beauty and to prevent "a
kind of banner war".

"We will provide such banners free of charge," said the
governor, a suggestion warmly welcomed by the parties'
representatives who said that this way would be beneficial for
contestants short of funds.

Joint campaign

Sutiyoso also agreed to establish joint campaign monitoring
posts for all contestants at City Hall as well as the city police
and military command headquarters in order to facilitate
monitoring activities.

"It will be easier for the contestants to report to us any
malfeasance and vice versa," he said.

The parties also agreed with Sutiyoso's proposal to make a
joint statement on maintaining security and creating peaceful
campaigns based on the rules which would be released by the
central government.

"The administration will make a draft statement and this will
be circulated to all contestants for any possible corrections,"
Sutiyoso said.

However, a warm welcome to this would be given only if the
joint statement does not politically constrain the parties, a
representative of the parties said.

"As long as the statement only deals with technical guidance,
we won't oppose it," said Agung Nugroho, regional secretary for
the Jakarta chapter of the Democratic People's Party.

A similar comment was also made by head of the Jakarta chapter
of the United Development Party, Djafar Badjeber. (ind)