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)