Party flags ordered to be removed

JAKARTA: City Governor Sutiyoso set Saturday as the deadline for the city's five mayors and the Thousands Islands regent to ensure their areas were free of political party flags or banners.

"I have asked the mayors and regent to clean up their areas by Saturday at the latest; they've already had a week," he said on Wednesday, as quoted by official city website beritajakarta.com.

Sutiyoso emphasized that the flying of party flags and banners across the city had violated orders.

"The parties should have sought the governor's permission to display flags or banners on major thoroughfares. They should remember that this is not the campaigning season," he said.

Campaigning will start in early March, prior to the legislative election in April. The direct presidential election will take place in two phases, in July and September. -- JP