INDONESIA: Media told not to 'cool off' coverage ahead of voting day

Media observer says the media could be blamed if it fails to expose election violations and mistakes

The Jakarta Post
Friday, April 3, 2009

By Desy Nurhayati

The media should continue upholding its role as a political watchdog ahead of the April 9 elections, even as the "cooling off" period begins next week, the Association of Independent Journalists (AJI) said Thursday.

Although the 2008 law on legislative elections restricts the media from publishing news and campaign material for any candidate during the period, AJI said the rule, in place to prevent any abuse of information, was vague.

Article 89, Paragraph (5) of the law stipulates that the mass media should not publish news, advertisements, track records or any other material concerning election candidates that could place them at an advantage or otherwise over other contestants.

"The phrase... could lead to certain interests benefiting or disadvantaging contestants' is unclear," Wahyu Dhyatmika, chairman of AJI's Jakarta chapter, said in a statement sent to The Jakarta Post. "The ruling could be abused by certain groups who oppose press freedom and wish to hamper the media's role as an election watchdog."

"In fact, there will most likely be many election violations during this period, like in the election five years ago."

The most common violations were the "dawn attacks", or vote buying efforts where contestants and their supporters visit voters' homes in the early hours of election day offering money.

The thirty-eight parties contesting the nationwide elections are allocated time to hold open campaigns from March 16 to April 5 but are forbidden from campaigning after that time until election day.

Media observer Agus Sudibyo said the media "could be at fault if it does not expose violations and errors concerning the election." The country's largest newspaper Kompas plans to halt its daily allocation of three election pages prior to the cooling off' period.

Its chief editor claimed the move had nothing to do with the ruling.

Date Posted: 4/3/2009