Weak regulations blamed for campaign violations
Weak regulations blamed for campaign violations
M. Taufiqurrahman, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) blamed on Monday
flawed campaign regulations for "disguised campaigning" by the
presidential candidates' election teams.
Panwaslu chairman Komaruddin Hidayat said that ahead of the
election runoff, the campaign teams were capitalizing on the
strict definition of campaigning as the "verbalization of the
candidates' political platforms" to hold "disguised" campaign
rallies involving huge crowds.
"The deceptive and manipulative campaigning tends to make a
fool out of the electorate, and this could harm the principle of
a fair and free election," Komaruddin said here.
Komaruddin was commenting on the publication of a full-page,
full-color advertisement in some newspapers, including Kompas
daily, on Monday touting the achievements of President Megawati
Soekarnoputri's administration in dealing with the economy.
The group behind the advertisement, the little-known
Investigation, Mediation and Monitoring Foundation, also offered
a quiz with Rp 14.1 billion (US$1.5 million) in total prizes up
for grabs, some of the money in the form of scholarships.
It should not be too difficult to answer the questions, which
were based on a fact sheet about the achievements of Megawati
during her three-year term, which will end on Oct. 20.
Megawati will face Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in the Sept. 20
presidential election runoff.
Panwaslu member Didik Supriyanto questioned the capability of
the foundation to place the ad and provide such huge prizes.
"How can such a little-known foundation promise so much prize
money for the quiz? How has it collected the money and what is
the prize money for?" Didik said.
A full-page, full-color advertisement in Kompas costs Rp
280.65 million.
Didik said the quiz, whether intentionally or not, was biased
in favor of Megawati, as it clearly touts her administration's
accomplishments.
"We will summon the organizers of the quiz this week to
clarify whether or not they have any connection with the campaign
teams of either presidential candidate," Didik said.
The quiz organizers have said that a number of state-owned
companies donated the prize money for the quiz.
Last month, the campaign team of Megawati and her running mate
Hasyim staged a "fun-walk" to honor one of the country's founding
fathers. One lucky person walked away from the event with a new
car.
The campaign team of Susilo and his running mate Jusuf Kalla
have held similar activities that have drawn huge crowds.
The official campaign period for the runoff take place between
Sept. 12 and Sept. 14.