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.