KPUD allots Rp 84m for cultural campaigns

Bali General Elections Commission (KPUD) allocated Rp 84 million (US$7,008) for organizing cultural performances and parades ahead of the April 9 legislative elections.

"We received a limited campaign budget from the KPU *General Elections Commission* but nonetheless we will organize modest cultural campaigns on polls to achieve a peaceful campaign," said Bali KPUD chairman Ketut Sukawati Lanang Perbawa.

"Various activities will be held during the open campaigning period from March 16 to April 5."

Sukawati was speaking at his office after meeting Saturday with candidates vying for seats at the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) and campaign teams of political parties.

The activities will kick off with an arts performance themed "Democracy for the people" at the Bali Arts Center in Denpasar on March 15, on the eve of the start of the open campaigning period.

The performance will see dances from Denpasar's Indonesian Arts Institute (ISI) and a number of dance troupes. The KPUD also plans to hoist the Indonesian flag followed by those of political parties.

On March 16, the KPUD will stage a joint campaign by holding a cultural parade around the Bajra Sandhi Monument in Renon, Denpasar, with participants consisting of DPD candidates and the 36 parties vying for legislative seats.

"Each political party and DPD candidate is allowed to have 50 participants at the parade," said the head of the Bali KPUD's campaign task force, Dewa Raka Sandi.

Marking the end of the campaign period, the Bali KPUD will hold two events. In the afternoon, a joint prayer will be performed at Jagatnatha Temple, followed by the symbolic laying down of campaigning paraphernalia at Puputan Badung Square.

In the evening, there will another arts performance at the Arts Center.

Raka was optimistic all the activities would go well without any security problems.

"We will involve the police and pecalang *traditional customary security guards* to safeguard the events," he said.

Bali will only use 14 days out of the 21-day open campaigning period as there will be a number of religious holidays in between. Galungan will be observed on March 17-19, Nyepi on March 25-27 and Kuningan on March 28.

Denpasar KPUD chairman I Made Gede Ray Misno said Saturday that of 35 political parties contesting in the provincial capital, 15 were absent from dissemination sessions without any clarification.

As for the individual candidates, only half of the 580 legislative candidates were present.

"We do not know why they were absent. It was really unexpected that they have very low attention, although such sessions are for their own interests," Misno said.

Dissemination division head of the Denpasar KPUD, IGA Diah Yuniti, said the polling body had given the parties and candidates space for discussions.

"We discussed various regulations and technicalities during campaigning period and voting day," she said.

"The turnout was low despite sessions being held during weekends."

Even more worrying were the sessions for the Denpasar I constituency (West and North Denpasar districts), where only 80 of 285 candidates attended such sessions. Most of those who did come arrived late.

Ni Komang Erviani and Wasti Atmodjo , THE JAKARTA POST , DENPASAR | Mon, 03/02/2009 2:18 PM | Bali