Plan to campaign in local polls by VP criticized

Plan to campaign in local polls by VP criticized

Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Election observers criticized on Sunday the plan of high-ranking
state officials to campaign for candidates in the upcoming direct
regional elections, saying it illustrated a lack of impartiality
and would taint the independence of the polls.

While acknowledging that such participation was not forbidden
by law, they said the move was a sign of democratic failure,
notably with the absence of laws regulating the use of leave and
facilities inherent with their status as state officials.

Vice President and Golkar Party leader Jusuf Kalla, deputy
party leader and House of Representatives Speaker Agung Laksono,
former Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) leader and People's
Consultative Assembly Speaker Hidayat Nur Wahid and State
Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs Adhyaksa Dault, also of the
PKS, are among top state officials set to campaign for candidates
from their respective parties.

Law No. 32/2004 on regional elections, however, bans
government officials, executives of state and local government-
owned enterprises, law enforcers, military personnel, civil
servants and village heads from showing partiality toward any
candidate.

It does not, however, specifically state anything about
politicians campaigning as a duty as party leaders.

Hadar Gumay from the Center for Electoral Reform (Cetro) said
that allowing state officials to campaign for candidates in the
direct elections of governors, mayors or regents could be
considered unjust to candidates whose parties had no
representatives at the top executive level.

"That is not a democratic and fair election," he said.

The absence of laws regulating this, Hadar said, was a sign
that the government wanted to take advantage of its position to
interfere in the regional elections.

"... to have a sort of limitless role, including the use of
power and status, in the elections," he added.

Moreover, he said, the participation of state officials could
lead to more power abuse as there was no law to regulate whether
they should take leave and completely avail of their state
facilities, as was the case during last year's legislative and
presidential elections.

"Since this includes high-ranking officials, there should be a
regulation to ensure that they do not use state facilities. For
example, using the state budget in the name of working visits,
but actually for financing their campaign trips," said Hadar.

Independent Committee for Election Monitoring (KIPP) director
executive Ray Rangkuti voiced similar concerns.

State officials participating in campaigning could distract
them and lead them to neglect their state duties once they have
to campaign for weeks, he said.

Ray said the involvement of state officials from the central
level in local campaigns meant the candidates apparently lacked
confidence in standing alone in front of the public.

Status-wise, if these officials use party commitments as an
excuse, he said it would be truly difficult for the public to
separate their status and position.

"Having these state officials behind one candidate surely is a
powerful draw for vested interests. And isn't it inappropriate
for, say, the Vice President or even the President, to personally
campaign at the gubernatorial or mayoral level?" Ray asked.

The local elections will start next month nationwide. Jusuf
Kalla, Agung Laksono and Hidayat Nur Wahid are expected to
campaign on June 10 for the first time in Medan, North Sumatra,
ahead of the mayoral race slated for June 27.