Same-day election campaigns spark clash fear

Bambang Nurbianto and P.C. Naommy, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

While all 24 political parties have vowed to conduct peaceful election campaigns, the fear remains of possible clashes, with parties insisting on staging their rallies at the same venues on the same days.

The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said on Monday they would hold their open-air campaigns at a popular rallying site -- the Bung Karno Sports Complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on March 29.

"We have to compromise by allowing the PKS to campaign in the morning and PDI-P in the afternoon," said Juri Ardiantoro, a member of the Jakarta General Election Commission (KPUD Jakarta) in charge of enforcing campaign regulations.

Both parties usually mobilize thousands of followers in open- air rallies.

The sports complex is a favorite place for political rallies due to its strategic location and huge capacity, fitting up to 100,000 people inside the main stadium.

PKS supporters must vacate the stadium at 11:30 a.m., before it was used by PDI-P, Juri said. He did not explain how the KPU would prevent the two parties' supporters meeting when entering and leaving the complex.

PKS Jakarta chapter head Ahmad Heriyawan said he would prefer it if his party's supporters did not meet with PDI-P supporters but PDI-P executives had refused to name an alternative place.

PDI-P Jakarta Chapter deputy leader Pantas Nainggolan, however, was optimistic there would be no clashes between the parties.

Parties and candidates for the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) will begin their rallies in public places in the third week after the campaign period kicks off on Thursday. In the first and second weeks, they are only allowed to have closed- door meetings.

KPUD Jakarta chairman Muhamad Taufik also talked down the possibility of violence during the campaign. Parties that had traditionally strong rivalries would stage rallies at separate venues, he said.

The KPUD has prepared hundreds of venues for closed-door campaigns and 58 places for open-air rallies.

The campaign period will officially start with 24 parties hoisting their flags in 350 spots across the capital.

All parties will join a carnival on March 11 on decorated vehicles. The event is likely to cause serious traffic jams as the parade will pass through major thoroughfares from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Meanwhile, National Police spokesman, Brig. Gen. Basyir Barwawi said no parties had submitted their campaign schedules as requested by the Jakarta Police.

"We still have three days and I hope they will submit their schedules to enable the police to plan our security measures," he said. "It's for the sake of public security."

The National Police will deploy a total of 174,495 personnel throughout the country on the day of the legislative election on April 5. From 556,751 available polling booths, 469,173 have been classified as secure, 57,504 are on low-alert status and 30,175 others are on middle-alert status.