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.