Susilo-Mega spat, much ado about nothing

Susilo-Mega spat, much ado about nothing

Moch. N. Kurniawan and Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post,
Jakarta/Surabaya

For 20 days starting next week, members of President Megawati
Soekarnoputri's Cabinet will devote their time to their
respective parties rather than state duties.

The General Elections Commission (KPU) has registered
President Megawati Soekarnoputri, Vice President Hamzah Haz,
Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra,
Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare
Jusuf Kalla, Minister of Research and Technology M. Hatta
Radjasa, Minister of Manpower and Transmigration Jacob Nuwa Wea,
Minister of Settlement and Regional Infrastructure Soenarno,
Minister of Social Bachtiar Chamsyah as campaigners.

KPU also registered People's Consultative Assembly Speaker
Amien Rais and House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung as
campaigners.

The state officials will campaign for their respective parties
during the campaign period from March 11 through April 1.

Megawati, Nuwa Wea and Soenarno will campaign for the
Indonesian Democratic Party for Struggle (PDI-P), Hamzah and
Bachtiar for the United Development Party (PPP), Amien and Hatta
for the National Mandate Party (PAN), Yusril for the Crescent
Star Party (PBB) and Susilo for the Democratic Party.

Former president Abdurrahman Wahid will campaign for the
National Awakening Party (PKB).

While the schedule for PDI-P leader Megawati is being
arranged, PPP leader Hamzah, Golkar leader Akbar and PKB founder
Abdurrahman have confirmed their trip to East Java on the first
day of the campaign period.

"Pak Akbar will address Golkar supporters at Tambaksari
Stadium in Surabaya on March 11," the treasurer of Golkar's East
Java chapter, Anwar Kusuma, said.

Akbar's competitors in the Golkar convention for the selection
of its sole presidential candidate Wiranto, Jusuf Kalla, Prabowo
Subianto, Abu Rizal Bakrie and Surya Paloh will also campaign in
East Java on the opening day of the campaign period.

Chairman of PPP's East Java chapter Masjkur Hasyim said Hamzah
would kick off his campaign in Situbondo, one of Nahdlatul
Ulama's strongholds.

KPU campaign regulations stipulate that state officials have
to take leave from state duties during the campaign period.

The government is also drafting a regulation which will
require the ministers, governors, regents and other officials to
take leave if they are to campaign.

Under Law No. 12/2003 on general elections, election campaigns
must not involve Supreme Court justices, Constitutional Court
judges, ordinary court judges, the chairman, deputy chairman and
members of the State Audit Agency (BPK), the Bank Indonesia
governor, senior deputy governor and deputy governors, officials
of state/provincial/regental companies and village heads.

State officials are restricted from using state facilities,
except security from the presidential detail for the president
and vice president. State facilities include official cars, state
buildings, houses, state radio and television station.

According to Government Regulation No. 9/2004 on election
campaigns for state officials issued on Feb. 25, 2004, the
campaign schedule of the president and vice president must be
submitted by the state secretariat to the KPU seven days before
the campaign starts.

The campaign schedule of ministers arranged by the state
secretariat must also be conveyed to the KPU seven days before
the campaign period begins.

If a minister becomes a party campaigner, the president will
take over his/her duty and can appoint an interim minister.