Poll watchdogs laud quiet campaign

Poll watchdogs laud quiet campaign

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Political parties, election watchdogs and non-governmental
organizations, described the 22-day legislative campaign election
period, which ended on Thursday, as a relatively peaceful and
orderly campaign.

Saut Sirait of the Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu)
said that the campaign proceeded smoothly without any significant
clashes between the supporters of the 24 political parties.

"Violations happened, but they were merely administrative
violations due to a lack of familiarization with the rules by
both supporters and campaigners," Sirait said.

Rachmat Aji Prakoso of the Institute for Policy and Community
Development Studies praised the parties' effort to conduct
discussions on programs between the legislative candidates and
the supporters, although the talks only scratched the surface.

Gunawan Hidayat of the Election Education Network for the
People (JPPR) however said a survey conducted by his team in 400
regencies revealed taht vote-buying techniques were found
everywhere. "Many political parties give out money and other
things such as basic necessities to lure voters during their
campaign," he said.

Political parties were also happy with the peaceful campaigns.
"It was a successful one, in terms of both supporter turnouts and
the way they reacted to our program," Ratna Indraningsih of the
New Indonesia Alliance Party (PPIB), said on Thursday.

The Golkar Party considered the 2004 campaign period as more
satisfactory than the 1999 election campaign due to warm welcome
it received in most of the regions. In 1999 people hurled abuse
and debris in their direction as they paraded through towns.

The head of Golkar's campaigning team, Bomer Pasaribu, said
that the party thought the performance of all institutions
involved in the election committee, such as the General Elections
Commission (KPU), Panwaslu, and the independent monitoring teams,
was better than in 1999.

Golkar leader Akbar Tandjung also thanked the National Police
for keeping the peace during the campaign period.

"We want to thank the police for keeping stability and also
Golkar members for not partaking in any violence during
campaign," he stated to a crowd of nearly 70,000 supporters in
Central Lampung on Thursday. On Wednesday however Golkar
supporters attacked a university in East Jakarta, injuring at
least 21 students. A witness had said it was revenge for the
students who had blocked Golkar's route.

The National Mandate Party (PAN) also praised the police. J.
Geovano of the Amien Rais Center (ARC), the office of the PAN
leader, added that the party was pleasantly surprised by the
enthusiasm of the public during the campaigns.