No campaign activities on religious holidays : KPUD

No campaign activities on religious holidays : KPUD

Bali's regional Elections Commission (KPUD) has decided not to allow political parties and candidates to hold large public events on the Hindu holidays that fall during the campaign period in April.

The head of Bali's KPUD, Lanang Perbawa Sukawati, said Monday the decision was made after an informal meeting between the provincial and regency KPUDs from across the island.

"We have notified Bali's governor on this matter and an official letter will soon be sent to the national commission in Jakarta to tell them about our decision," he said.

In the next few weeks, he added, all KPUDs would be organizing a series of meetings with party leaders, legislative candidates and community leaders to update them about the decision.

"The decision was made to show our respect to observant Hindus who will certainly need a quiet atmosphere to observe their religious obligations," he said.

The national Elections Commission has announced the 21-day official campaign period for the upcoming April legislative elections will take place from March 16 to April 5.

During that period, Balinese Hindus will celebrate three major religious festivals: Galungan on March 18, Nyepi on March 26 and Kuningan on March 28.

Galungan and Kuningan are the most jubilant Balinese Hindu festivals, during which Balinese Hindus commemorate the victory of dharma (virtues) over adharma (vices).

Nyepi is the celebration of the Hindu new year based on the Saka calendar. It is also known as the Day of Silence because on this day worshippers refrain from venturing outside their homes, lighting fires, working or partaking in any leisure activities.

"Out of the 21 official campaign days, only eleven do not fall on ... Hindu religious days," head of Denpasar's KPUD Ray Misno said during a meeting with customary village heads, bendesa, from across the municipality.

Ray said there would be no mass rallies from March 17 to 19 to honor Galungan, from March 23 to 26 to honor Nyepi and from March 27 to 29 to honor Kuningan.

In the meeting several bendesa informed Ray that on March 30 all villages in Denpasar would hold the Pamedakan Agung religious ceremony.

"We agreed with the bendesa that there would be no campaigning on March 30 as well to honor that ceremony," Ray said.

The bendesa lauded the decision of the provincial and regency KPUDs, commending the commission for their culturally sensitive approach.

"We will assist the KPUDs to ensure the Balinese can celebrate their religious holidays and exercise their political rights in a peaceful and orderly atmosphere," the bendesa of Sanur, I.B. Anom, said.

On another issue, the bendesa from Padangsambian, A.A. Sudira, urged the political parties to organize down-to-earth, more intimate activities targeting neighborhoods and communities instead of holding large-scale public events in city soccer fields.

"Campaigning with this kind of intimate, personal approach will win more hearts as well as reduce the adverse effects traditionally associated with mass campaigns, such as traffic jams and violent clashes involving supporters of competing political parties," he said.

Wasti Atmodjo , The Jakarta Post , Denpasar | Tue, 01/06/2009 11:11 AM | Bali