Proper placement of flags urged

TANGERANG (JP): Tangerang Regency has made an urgent plea to the local municipality office to issue guidelines on the posting of stickers, posters, banners and flags of political parties contesting the June elections, an official said on Wednesday.

Regency spokesman Slamet Putranto told reporters that guidelines were badly needed in his area to help curb the ongoing "war of attributes" of the 48 political parties in the area.

One billboard here, for example, has been posted with a great number of stickers and flyers promoting various parties.

Along the top of the billboard, a number of flags belonging to several parties with different colors and sizes have been installed.

The war of attributes can be seen along the main streets Jl. Gatot Subroto, Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan and Jl. Merdeka.

Many flags have been erected in the same place or in trees. Posters and flyers have been posted in many public places.

Many residents have complained that the attributes deface the city.

According to Slamet, the improper installment of attributes could easily spark disputes among political parties and their constituents.

"We hope the current calm situation will not be affected by fresh disturbances due to the improper installment of party attributes," he said.

The regency office, he said, would not take any measures against the inappropriate posting of party attributes "since there is no clear regulation on it".

He therefore expressed hope that the executives of local party chapters would organize the correct posting and installment of their respective attributes as well as the establishment of their temporary posts. (41/jun)