Political parties started to campaign
on Monday to get people support in direct legislative election on April 9 and Presidential election on July 8.
The political parties gathered here in the capital of Jakarta vowing to conduct a peaceful campaign, amid the concern that clash among the political parties supporters may occur. The 21-day campaign will end on April 5. "This morning we will begin political campaign up to April 5," Head of Indonesian Electoral Commission Hafiz Anshari told political parties during the declaration of the peaceful campaign, marking the beginning of the election campaign.
Thirty-eight political parties and five local parties in Aceh province are expected to contest in the elections.
The head of commission asked the parties to meet the rules during the dissemination of their parties vision and mission. "The campaign should be done to disseminate information and programs of the parties. Please don not conduct provocation which can trigger anarchy," said Anshari.
A large number of security personnel have been deployed to secure the political event.
National police have dispatched two-third of its strength or about 25,000 personnel, according to the police spokesman Abu Bakar Natrarprawira. The country's armed forces also deployed 24, 000 of its troops, spokesman of the forces Sargom Tambun said earlier.
Incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono may face strong rivals such as former President Megawati Soekarnoputri, some former generals and a Javanese Sultan of Hamengkubuwono.