Punishment unlikely for errant parties

JAKARTA (JP): The Election Supervisory Committee is reluctant to punish political parties that started campaigning early, worried that such a move would spark anger, a committee executive said on Tuesday.

Todung Mulya Lubis, deputy chief of the official poll watchdog, said in his address to political party representatives in Pekanbaru, Riau, on the eve of the campaign period on Tuesday that there were fears punishments would incite supporters of errant parties to take revenge.

"It's difficult for us to take punitive measures against a certain party because some people will fall victim," said Todung, who is also coordinator of the University Network for Free and Fair Elections, as quoted by Antara.

"We will think twice before handing down sanctions whether we are fair and using our common sense."

Governor Saleh Jasit was among notable figures who attended the meeting.

Early campaigning was a common practice of parties contesting the June 7 polls, in spite of regulations banning campaigning before May 19. Parties gave a range of excuses to defend there actions.

The General Elections Commission has repeatedly called on the parties to tone down premature campaign activities, particularly after clashes erupted between rival parties.

Todung warned, however, that the official election supervisory agency was entitled to ban a party from campaigning if it commits more serious mistakes.

"We are allowed to prematurely call off an electoral campaign if we find a party fails to control its supporters who go on a rampage," he said.

Todung said that the official poll watchdog had yet to start investigations into the alleged misuse of social safety net funds by ruling Golkar Party, citing a lack of evidence.

"We cannot accuse certain parties of committing money politics if we are short of evidence," Todung said, adding, "There are reports of such violations from people."

In Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, a local poll watchdog, calling itself Forapsi, disclosed a number of violations committed by Golkar cadres at the expense of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and the Democratic People's Party (PRD).

"Village and subdistrict heads who link themselves to Golkar have repeatedly told people that PDI Perjuangan and PRD are similar to the now defunct Indonesian Communist Party," the report said.

It also said the local leaders barred the two parties from entering their jurisdictions. (amd)