The campaigning period for the first round of legislative elections began March 11 and runs until April 1. The General Elections Commission identified several places in Jakarta that could be prone to clashes between political parties resulting in possible violence 0r riots. These areas are the Mampang Prapatan area in South Jakarta, the Semanggi area in Central Jakarta, the Daan Mogot area in West Jakarta, the Cikini and Senen areas in Central Jakarta, and the Jalan Raya Bogor and Pulogadung areas in East Jakarta. A police official in Jakarta suggested that serious violence was unlikely, saying that guarding a soccer match was a greater challenge than policing the election campaign, but incidents have occurred in the past and police are on full alert around the country, notably in Central Sulawesi, Aceh and Ambon.
