TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Press Council Chairman Yosep Stanley Adi Prasetyo warned that any political party or general election participants will be held accountable if caught violating any campaign regulations through social media.

Yosep’s warning is responding to earlier reports of the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI) attempting a head start before the official campaign begins by placing an advertisement in national print media Jawa Pos on April 23.

“The party should be punished for violating the rules of campaigning outside of [the official] campaign period. Meanwhile, the media that published it will only be warned by the Press Council,” said Stanley on Thursday, May 3.

Read: Bawaslu Finds Indication of Ads Violation Done by PSI

PSI’s early campaign attempt at the newspaper showed the party’s symbol and serial number for the 2019 election. It also displayed alternative candidates for the Vice President and cabinet minister for President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).

However, referring to Law No. 40/1999 on Press, the content that PSI showcased at the Jawa Pos newspaper was purely a form of advertisement, which is not considered to be a problem.

“The one that is prohibited is native advertisements or infusing news with the ads. None of the Press Council’s regulations were violated if it is in the form of an advertisement,” said Yosep.

IMAM HAMDI