Zoning system proposed in new campaign rules

Zoning system proposed in new campaign rules

JAKARTA (JP): The National Council for Defense and Security
submitted its proposal for a new set of election campaign rules
yesterday, seeking to prevent the violence seen in past campaigns
but without reducing people's participation.

The new rules will do away with the system of alternating
campaign days for the contestants in any given area, council
secretary-general Lt. Gen. (ret) Soekarto said after presenting
the draft to President Soeharto at Merdeka Palace.

The authorities will introduce a zoning system to prevent the
likelihood of supporters of different political parties running
into each other, Soekarto said.

It is then up to the campaign organizers to ensure their
supporters are confined to their designated zones, he said.

Their ability to regulate their own campaigns will also affect
their image, he said, stressing that voters would base their
decision on this.

The zoning system would prevent supporters from holding
motorcades which have often caused massive traffic congestion in
large cities like Jakarta.

The proposal seeks to abolish the previous rule of limiting
campaigns to regency towns, he said, adding that if approved,
election contestants could campaign in villages.

"They can campaign in the districts, kampongs or even down to
small neighborhoods.

They can even choose a remote village if they want to, but
then they might not find enough people there," he said.

He also assured the campaign rules would afford equal
treatment to all three political groups contesting the elections
-- Golkar, the United Development Party (PPP) and the Indonesian
Democratic Party (PDI).

Soekarto stressed that while the new rules would not ban
election rallies, they would emphasize dialog between the
election candidates and voters.

The council, comprising mainly retired military officers, was
asked by President Soeharto in September to draw up a new set of
campaign rules for next year's election, stressing the need to
prevent chaos and violence which have marred past election
campaigns.

Soekarto said the council had consulted all three political
groups, as well as scholars, government officials and experts, in
drafting the new rules. He expressed confidence the proposal had
the support of all the three political groups.

It is now up to President Soeharto on whether to adopt the
proposal, which would come either in the form of a government
regulation or a presidential decree, he said, adding that he
expected this to happen soon.

The council is also proposing to extend the campaign period
from 25 to 27 days, and shorten the "cooling off" period from
seven to five days before the polling day.

The National Election Institute has tentatively set the
campaign period from April 29 to May 23. The date for voting will
be made by presidential decree, but it is expected at the end of
May.

Soekarto stressed the campaign rules would be considered
successful if they did not stifle people's enthusiasm in taking
part in the election campaigns, but at the same time ensured
order. (imn)

PPP -- Page 2