Political Parties Begin Campaign For 2014 Elections

Jakarta, Jan 11 (ANTARA) - The campaign period for the 10 political parties taking part in presidential and legislative elections in Indonesia has started, although the draw numbers of the new political parties will be out on Monday (January 14). "The campaign can start from today, but not the general meetings or open meetings," Election Commission Chairman Husni Kamil Manik said, while raising awareness of the regulations relating to the election campaign, in Jakarta on Friday. According to Commission Regulation No 15/2012 on Stages and Implementation of Election 2014, the campaign can begin from January 11, 2013, and last until April 5, 2014. During the campaign period, political parties are prohibited from holding rallies and public meetings, as well as engaging in advertising activities until 21 days before the "quiet period". Public or open meetings and the use of mass media advertising will be possible only from March 16, 2014, onwards until April 5, 2014. However, closed meetings may be held during the campaign period on the condition that the number of political party members present do not exceed 1,000 at the regional level and 250 at the city level. Such meetings can be held by notifying in writing to the Commission, the Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu), or the Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu), and also the local police. "The campaigns must be efficient, environmentally friendly and accountable. The goal of the campaign is political education and political participation of the community," Commissioner Kelly Rizkyansyah Ferry said on Friday. Ferry also urged all political parties to systematically record the names of the members of the campaign team. Political parties are not allowed to campaign in places of worship, highways, hospitals, government offices and government buildings. "Attaching stickers, flyers and the like are also not allowed during the campaign,"� Ferry stated. "In principle, if it is to be an environmentally friendly campaign, do not go around littering the places with advertising materials," he added.