Amien stands high to contest election<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The world's most famous stadiums across the world are known for
\nhosting memorable matches, but here the country's biggest stadium
\nhas been reduced to a meeting point of party supporters.<\/p>\n
After the rally of the United Development Party (PPP) and the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) on Sunday, the
\nNational Mandate Party (PAN) had its turn to rock the 42-year-old
\nBung Karno stadium on Monday.<\/p>\n
Almost 100,000 people turned the green grass of the stadium
\nblue, the party's color, as they gathered for PAN's last rally in
\nthe capital, to the relief of party leader Amien Rais.<\/p>\n
Seeing the huge turnout, Amien expressed the conviction that
\nthe party had gained more support from the people across the
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
\"I have been campaigning in regions from Aceh to Maluku. All
\nof them are packed with people. This proves the party has won
\nmore support,\" he said amid applause from the audience.<\/p>\n
Unlike other parties that hired musicians or dangdut singers
\nto attract people, the party presented a marching band parade
\nwith performers wearing traditional attire to represent the
\ncountry's 32 provinces.<\/p>\n
Amien, People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker,
\ncriticized the government for failing to carry out the reform
\nagenda initiated in 1998.<\/p>\n
He said the reform agenda had been derailed and resulted in
\nrampant corruption, illegal logging, and the sale of state assets
\nto foreign companies.<\/p>\n
Fearing manipulation during ballot counting, Amien called on
\nthe people to closely watch the process. \"We must also watch out
\nfor vote buying. It is humiliating for the nation,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Noted Muslim scholar Nurcholish Madjid attended the campaign,
\nsaying he was forging a coalition for just and clean parties.<\/p>\n
After giving his speech, Amien rushed to another rally in
\nKuningan, West Java, aboard a helicopter.<\/p>\n
The crowd of PAN supporters caused a crippling traffic jam on
\nJl. Sudirman, Jl. Gatot Subroto, and Jl. Asia Afrika. It was not
\nclear why PAN's campaign rally was so well-attended despite the
\nfact that it was held on a Monday.<\/p>\n
Separately, the Concern for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB)
\nlaunched its campaign on a vacant lot located in the middle of an
\nindustrial estate area in Ujung Menteng subdistrict, East
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
Attended by its around 10,000 supporters, the campaign caused
\ntraffic congestion along Jl. Bekasi Raya, which was already
\npacked with trucks.<\/p>\n
The East Jakarta Police Precinct had to deploy a company of
\npolice to guard the campaigners for fear that the party
\nsupporters would disrupt the operation of the nearby factories.<\/p>\n
The party featured vote getter Siti \"Tutut\" Hardijanti
\nRukmana, the eldest daughter of former president Soeharto.<\/p>\n
During the campaign, Tutut called on party supporters to pray
\nfor the health of her father, whom she claimed was lying sick in
\nbed.<\/p>\n
\"My father had sent you all his regards, and I ask you to pray
\nfor his health... Long live Soeharto. We are asking for your
\nblessings so that the glory of the Soeharto era can be revived,\"
\nshe said.<\/p>\n
Meantime, the National Awakening Party (PKB) held a minor
\ngathering on Monday. Former forestry minister Marzuki Usman, a
\nPKB legislative candidate, called on party members to reject
\nmoney politics.<\/p>\n
Legislator Effendi Choirie arrived late, while Syaifullah
\nYusuf, who had just been dismissed as the party's secretary-
\ngeneral, failed to turn up.<\/p>\n
Effendi called on pro-reform groups to stop the revival of New
\nOrder for fears that the general election might benefit the old
\nregime.<\/p>\n
In Surabaya, presidential candidate from the Democratic Party
\nSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono was unable to fulfill the invitation of
\nPKB founder Abdurrahman Wahid to join the latter's campaign as a
\nguest speaker.<\/p>\n
In his letter to Abdurrahman, Susilo said the invitation
\noverlapped with his campaign schedule.<\/p>\n
Before addressing the crowd, Gus Dur met some Chinese
\nIndonesian community leaders in the city.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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