REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BATAM -- The Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) has reprimanded national TV stations MNC Group, Metro TV and TVOne because they are believed to have conducted covert political campaigns using broadcast programs.

"We see there are potential violations of election campaign (rule). We should remind the LPP, MNC Group, Metro TV and TV One that they should not broadcast programs which could violate the rules," Bawaslu chairman Muhammad said here on Saturday, as quoted by Antara.

He further called on all Indonesian broadcasting institutions and private TV stations to stop airing covert campaign programs.

The alleged covert campaigns were carried out in the form of ads that included on-screen pictures of political party chairmen. There were also violations of rules when ceremonies were televised that showed political party chairmen.

"There are many (TV) programs which show political party leaders," he said.

He noted that although political party chairmen denied conducting covert campaigns in their appearances on TV programs, yet Bawaslu was of the view that their appearances on TV programs were clear violations. After all, he said, they are the major holders of the TV stations' stake.

Muhammad said that as a preventive measure, Bawaslu had warned TV stations before the alleged violations had been committed. "We have sent letters again to them to remind them. But they do not change. Bawaslu has the obligation to remind them."

He said that the time for campaign activities using media publications and TV stations for electoral contestants in next year's legislative and presidential elections had not yet arrived. Based on the regulations of the General Elections Commission (KPU), legislative candidates can begin placing ads in the mass media 21 days before elections are held.

Besides TV stations, the KPU also saw covert campaigns by legislative candidates on billboards, though such promotions are banned by the KPU in Regulation No. 15 / 2013.

He added that many legislative nominees conducted covert ad campaigns by promoting party colors on billboards. "Because it is not allowed to put names and sequence numbers on billboards, the legislative candidates conduct covert campaigns based on the colors (of their political parties)," he said.

Indeed, the KPU did not rule about the colors, but violators could be charged with ignoring other regulations, he said.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika