Bogor – The General Chairman of the Central Directing Board of the Indonesian Democratic Party (DPP PDI) Soerjadi clarified that the implementation of the General Elections (Pemilu) 1997 campaign would experience a setback if there are too many rules which will be beneficial for one of the OPP (pemilu participating organization). Because, with causing an advantage for one of the OPP's it meant that a disadvantage is caused for other OPP's.
And a rule which is considered as a disadvantage, is among others about the total of campaign days, the regulation of the moderator, and the prior screening of the campaign text.
The clarification was disclosed after opening the PDI leadership meeting (Rapim) on Monday (17/2) at Wisma DPR Kopo, Bogor. Soerjadi also mentioned the total of campaign days as an example.
According to Soerjadi, with the new regulation, the number of campaign days added from 25 days to become 27 days. But because in the new regulation the three OPP were given the same allotment, in practice each OPP would only get a third of 27 days. "This regulation clearly harms the PDI," Soerjadi stressed.
He described that in the Pemilu 1971 the campaign lasted 3 months, then was decreased to 1.5 months, then decreased to 25 days and in the coming Pemilu 1997 practically only nine days, "Will there in the Pemilu after the five coming years be no campaign? Is there a country in this world which held general elections without campaign?" he demanded.
Soerjadi saw that in the present system only the rich OPP would be advantaged. But as it has become an official regulation, he said, there is no other choice for the PDI but to implement it.
"We shall obey the regulation and attempt to the utmost to comply with the new stipulation," he said.
Regarding the text of the speeches that had to be screened, Ssoerjadi considered it as a setback. "How will people campaign? Their text must be screened by the powers. This is funy and makes no sense," said Soerjadi while supposing that this stipulation was like letting loose the head but still holding the tail.
"Trust must actually fully be given. I am not convinced that there is an OPP which wants to call to rebel or an OPP which in its campaign wants to destroy the system, I am not convinced," he said while adding that the many binding regulations would decrease the weight of democracy.
Tight guard
The PDI leadership meeting which was opened by the General Chairman of the Central Directing Board of the Indonesian Democratic Party was coloured by the tight guard of the security apparature. Two armoured cars were parked at the premises of Wisma DPR while the road to the Wisma was blocked by barbed wire.
Anti riot units of the Mobile Brigade complete with their shield and other parapehernalia guarded at the end of the road. The anti riot units even already guarded at the gate of the Ciawi toll road, or 20 km from the location of the leadership meeting (Rapim).
Meanwhile PDI task forces checked strictly the journalists who wanted to cover the Rapim which was attended by DPP PDI functionaries from the Medan Congress, eventhough the reporters came with invitations in form of a fax and identity card. "Invitations without original stamps are not valid," a task force member said.
When the tight guarding was confirmed with the General Chairman of the DPP PDI Soerjadi, so that there had to be two armoured cars at the premises and the "harsh" attitude of the PDI task force, he was not willing to reply.
"It is as if you (reporters - Red) don't know," said Soerjadi after opening the Rapim.
Violating decision
Meanwhile the Central Advisory Board (Deperpu) of the PDI of the Medan Congress stated that the 11 legislative candidates for the DPR (House of Representatives) of the DPP PDI Medan Congress, including Soerjadi and Fatimah Achmad, could not be nominated as legislative candidates anymore.
They fell under the stipulation of SK DPP PDI No 059/DPP/KPTS/IX/1986 which limitted the duration of a DPR function of PDI for two successive years while they could be reelected after a grace period of one year. The restriction was effective as of the Pemilu 1997.
The Deperpu letter dated 15 February 1997 addressed to the DPP PDI was signed by the Deperpu PDI Chairman Hardjanto Soemodisatro and IInd Secretary MB Samosir of which a copy was sent to various mass media. Said letter was a follow up of the one of December about the Provisory Candidate Lists (DCS) of the Pemilu. According to the Deperpu PDI, both were not answered by the DPP PDI.
"With this stipulation PDI members who were DPR RI members in 1988 and 1992 can only be reelected in 2002. At the Pemilu 1997 the concerned person cannot be reelected as legislative candidate (caleg)," thus the Deperpu PDI.
The eleven caleg are Soerjadi, Hj Fatimah Achmad, Anwar Datuk, M Syafei Ali Gumay, Popo Sonandar Haroen, Djufri, Subagyo, Benidikt Nahon Marbun, Dimmy Haryanto, Budi Harjono and Markus Wauran.
The Deperpu PDI Chairman reminded that in determining the caleg the DPP PDI should consequently implement the two decisions for limitting the office period at the DPR in order that there would be no legal flaw in the Pemilu of PDI 1997.
After opening the Rapim Soerjadi said that in the Deperpu were regulations and mechanisms. He saw that the mechanism was not implemented yet. "Regarding said SK DPP PDI, you have maybe not yet read said SK. It has no connection with nomination but with the assignement," Soerjadi said.
He clarified that there were two rules in the SK. First that who already two times was member of the House could not become a House member anymore, but not that he could not be nominated.
Second, the chairman of the party may not become a DPR member which is above it, namely a Branch chairman may not become a member of the Ist Level Regional DPR nor National DPR and the Chairman of the DPD may not become a DPR member. "So there is no prohibition on nomination," said Soerjadi.