Punishment unlikely for errant parties

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)