Jakarta – The 53 members of the newly established National Elections Committee (KPU) are to convene on Monday morning to discuss a draft code of conduct for election campaigning, which includes a ban on mass mobilization of supporters.
Other stipulations cover adherence to the law, freedom from fear and pressure, prohibition of bribery, transparency of information and equal rights and treatment.
Government representative on the committee Andi A. Mallarangeng promised to abide by the now disbanded Team of Eleven's recommendation that no mass rallies should be held during the 20 designated campaign days.
"No mass mobilization or rallies. Parties can campaign through public debates on television, in newspapers ... and through dialog campaigning," he said Friday after the drawing of parties' numbers. Committee chairman Gen. (ret) Rudini concurred.
Scheduled for May 18 until June 4, election campaigning is considered the most inflammable period for clashes and riots.
"There's no need for massive rallies during campaigning ... but the KPU has to agree on this as a whole," Rudini said. Both Rudini and Andi said they were lobbying the poll contestants to decide against street rallies.
"So far some of them agreed also on sanctions that should be imposed on violators. For instance, a political party could be disqualified if proven to be involved in clashes," Rudini added.
Another government representative, former justice Adi Andojo Soetjipto, cited the unfeasibility of all 48 contenders taking turns holding street rallies during the short time period.
"[Rallies] will only be ineffective. Rioting could even foil the poll," he said on Saturday. He called on party leaders to be role models for their supporters in their campaign behavior. "Do not exploit rhetoric on ethnicity, religion or race which will only incite tension or anger."
Representatives of the political parties on the committee differed on how far the code of conduct should extend.
"We do not want any bloodshed. We basically agree not to have mass rallies despite them being the most effective means to attract people, but the committee must find a better campaigning method," said Hasballah M. Saad of the National Mandate Party (PAN).
Sri Bintang Pamungkas of the Indonesian Uni-Democracy Party said he agreed there should be more public debates and dialogs. "Let's contest [our skills] in debating ideas and concepts," he said.
Abdul Rahman Saleh of the Crescent Star Party was also in favor, but warned of the possibility the major parties, with great resources at their disposal, would break the agreement.