Mamuju, West Sulawesi (ANTARA Sulbar) - Sympathizers of presidential hopeful Prabowo in West Sulawesi strongly protested the provincial branch of the state owned post office PT Pos and the regional election watchdog (Bawaslu) for not immediately delivering 700 personal letters of Prabowo addressed to school teachers in Mamuju, in the province.
"This we could not accept as Bawaslu has taken an action that confuses the people," one of the sympathizers Aditia said here on Friday.
On Thursday PT Pos reported to Bawaslu that it had received 700 letters sent by Prabowo from Jakarta addressed to school teachers in Mamuju.
Head of the Mamuju branch of PT Pos Adam said he decided to report to Bawaslu about the letters as it could be against the election regulation.
"I don`t want to take risk when receiving a package of 700 personal letters from Prabowo addressed to school teachers. Therefore, immediately after receiving the letters I reported to Bawaslu," Adam said.
He said Bawaslu appreciated his decision for not delivering the letters to the addressees.
A member of the provincial Bawaslu office Muhammad Saleh said the letters have been confiscated and they would be held until the election was over.
"We would still deliver the letters to the right addresses but it would be after the presidential election. If they are only ordinary personal letters to individuals they would be delivered immediately, but the letters are addressed to schools. It is against the regulation as the letters are about the visions of presidential candidate Prabowo," Saleh said.
Prabowo`s letters have been found sent to many other schools across the country containing his political visions.
The Jakarta office of Bawaslu has received reports of such letters and declared that Prabowo had acted against the regulation by sending such letters to educational institutions .
The election law prohibits involving certain institutions including educational institution in political activities or campaigns.
Adam said his office began to receive personal letters of Prabowo on Wednesday night.
"We received the letters last night. When we opened the package we found 700 personal letters of Prabowo in it," he said on Thursday.
He said the post office did not immediately deliver the letters to the addressees as they were worried that it would be against the election regulation.
"We have heard that similar letters sent to other schools in the country causing big controversy. Therefore we decided to coordinate with Bawaslu first, regardless of the sender. No matter whether he is a presidential candidate or anyone else," he said .
"We have to be careful in carrying out our duty. We do not want to be mired in legal matter," he added.
Aditia argued the letters are addressed not to an institution but to the teachers as individuals in Mamuju.
"In addition, the letters contain nothing that could hurt anyone. Through the letters Prabowo only wants to ask for blessing and explain his visions," he said.
"What is wrong with that. I think it is only a creative campaign which is also allowed in advanced nations like the United States," he added.
He said unless the letters are immediately delivered he would lodge official protests against PT Pos and the West Sulawesi office of Bawaslu.
He called for the dismissal of the head of the Mamuju branch of PT POS fort not being professional. A Saragih/Yosef
"This we could not accept as Bawaslu has taken an action that confuses the people," one of the sympathizers Aditia said here on Friday.
On Thursday PT Pos reported to Bawaslu that it had received 700 letters sent by Prabowo from Jakarta addressed to school teachers in Mamuju.
Head of the Mamuju branch of PT Pos Adam said he decided to report to Bawaslu about the letters as it could be against the election regulation.
"I don`t want to take risk when receiving a package of 700 personal letters from Prabowo addressed to school teachers. Therefore, immediately after receiving the letters I reported to Bawaslu," Adam said.
He said Bawaslu appreciated his decision for not delivering the letters to the addressees.
A member of the provincial Bawaslu office Muhammad Saleh said the letters have been confiscated and they would be held until the election was over.
"We would still deliver the letters to the right addresses but it would be after the presidential election. If they are only ordinary personal letters to individuals they would be delivered immediately, but the letters are addressed to schools. It is against the regulation as the letters are about the visions of presidential candidate Prabowo," Saleh said.
Prabowo`s letters have been found sent to many other schools across the country containing his political visions.
The Jakarta office of Bawaslu has received reports of such letters and declared that Prabowo had acted against the regulation by sending such letters to educational institutions .
The election law prohibits involving certain institutions including educational institution in political activities or campaigns.
Adam said his office began to receive personal letters of Prabowo on Wednesday night.
"We received the letters last night. When we opened the package we found 700 personal letters of Prabowo in it," he said on Thursday.
He said the post office did not immediately deliver the letters to the addressees as they were worried that it would be against the election regulation.
"We have heard that similar letters sent to other schools in the country causing big controversy. Therefore we decided to coordinate with Bawaslu first, regardless of the sender. No matter whether he is a presidential candidate or anyone else," he said .
"We have to be careful in carrying out our duty. We do not want to be mired in legal matter," he added.
Aditia argued the letters are addressed not to an institution but to the teachers as individuals in Mamuju.
"In addition, the letters contain nothing that could hurt anyone. Through the letters Prabowo only wants to ask for blessing and explain his visions," he said.
"What is wrong with that. I think it is only a creative campaign which is also allowed in advanced nations like the United States," he added.
He said unless the letters are immediately delivered he would lodge official protests against PT Pos and the West Sulawesi office of Bawaslu.
He called for the dismissal of the head of the Mamuju branch of PT POS fort not being professional. A Saragih/Yosef