Editorial: That flagging feeling

Sat, 07/19/2008 11:02 AM | Opinion

Jakarta's streets are already overcrowded by millions of vehicles, whose emissions continue to choke residents. And now omnipresent banners, stickers and flags -- many from politicians or political parties -- are adding to the general ugliness of most Jakarta streets and public spaces.

Most of these party banners and flags are illegal because they are displayed without permit. Despite this, authorities are hesitant to take action because it may create "unnecessary problems" with political parties and politicians.

With the campaign for next April's national election lasting nine months, it is not difficult to imagine just how dirty and chaotic Jakarta will be by then. Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo and his administration need to act now before every street in the capital, including the main thoroughfares, start looking like slum areas.

According to Jakarta city bylaw No. 8/2007 on public order, it is illegal to place in public view banners, posters, flags and anything else that promotes something or someone, including political parties and politicians, without permission from the Jakarta governor or relevant officials acting on his behalf. Violators can face a three-month jail term or a fine of up to Rp 30 million (US$3,260).

The city seems to be filled with these so-called party attributes, which cover both private and public properties. They not only annoy those whose houses and yards are so rudely used to promote some party or another, but also put an ugly face on public space.

Promotional stickers are slapped up anywhere, on fences of private houses and offices, utility poles, trees along sidewalks. Banners and flags occupy strategic places without considering the tidiness of the surroundings.

There is nothing fundamentally wrong with the presence of the banners and stickers, because they are good promotional instruments. But they need to be put up properly, under the close monitoring of relevant officials. Otherwise, their presence will be at the expense of the urban landscape.

Some banners are even needed because they convey important messages to the public, like anti-drug campaigns, the danger of contagious diseases and calls to residents to take part in securing their neighborhoods.

So the task of officials is to uphold existing regulations. They have to control the installment of banners in public places. With proper control, the city will gain a number of benefits.

First, the city will get more revenue because it is authorized to collect taxes on any promotional banners displayed in public places, particularly if they are for commercial purposes.

Second, the city administration will be able to decide where the items are displayed.

Proper monitoring is even more urgent with the nine-month campaign for the 2009 legislative and presidential elections underway. Without close monitoring, party flags and banners will overrun the capital.

The General Elections Commission has declared 34 political parties eligible to take part in next year's legislative elections. A few of these parties have hanging flags and banners around the city.

Soon, all the parties will be competing for the best places in the city for their flags, so they can be easily seen by as many people as possible. Without proper control, the city will simply be overrun by flags.

The objective of hanging banners and flags is to attract people, not to annoy them. Therefore, those materials should be attractive, not annoying.

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