Candidates float ideas in rally<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Thousands of people lined up along Jl. M.H. Thamrin and Jl.
\nSudirman on Tuesday to watch the floats go by as the first day of
\na month-long presidential campaign began.<\/p>\n
The people, mostly activists who support one of the
\ncandidates, waved flags when their favorite candidate's floats
\nwent by.<\/p>\n
Many others, however, just stood on the sidewalk, enjoying the
\ncolorful decorations, some of the vehicles made to resemble food
\nshops, mosques or ships.<\/p>\n
Office clerks in high-rise buildings along the thoroughfares
\nwere also seen standing at the windows, watching the dozens of
\ncolorful floats.<\/p>\n
Several vehicles had huge loud speakers with various types of
\nmusic in a bid to get people to vote for their candidates.
\nSeveral people also tossed out free pins, posters and T-shirts
\nbearing the faces and names of the candidates.<\/p>\n
The floats departed from the National Monument (Monas) Park,
\nwhere the candidates all gathered and signed a plaque reading
\nReady to Accept Victory or Defeat, a simple gesture to
\ndemonstrate their readiness to hold peaceful campaigns.<\/p>\n
\"Millions of Indonesian eyes focus on this event with the hope
\nthat the election will be held in a peaceful and democratic way
\nand will produce leaders who can take the country out of the
\ncrisis,\" said General Elections Commission (KPU) chairman
\nNazaruddin Syamsuddin.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso, chairman of the Jakarta General
\nElection Commission (KPU Jakarta) Muhamad Taufik, National Police
\nchief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar, Jakarta police chief Ins. Gen. Makbul
\nPatmanagara and Jakarta Military commander Maj. Gen. Agus Sutadi
\nwere also present at the ceremony.<\/p>\n
Around 20 floats of the Wiranto-Solahuddin Wahid pairing left
\nthe Monas Park at around 8:50 a.m., followed by floats of
\nMegawati-Hasyim Muzadi, Amien Rais-Siswono Yudohusodo, Susilo
\nBambang Yudhoyono-Jusuf Kalla and Hamzah Haz-Agum Gumelar.<\/p>\n
However, only Wiranto and Solahuddin were seen parading in an
\nopen truck as the officials apparently forgot to inform them that
\npresidential and vice presidential candidates were not allowed to
\nbe exposed.<\/p>\n
Susilo and Kalla were about to leave the park in an open jeep
\nbut were told to get down and got inside a sedan.<\/p>\n
The arrangement disappointed many bystanders who had lined on
\nthe streets to get a first-hand glimpse of the candidates.<\/p>\n
\"Why were only Wiranto and Solahuddin in an open car. I came
\nto see the candidates not these other people,\" said a woman at
\nBendungan Hilir busway shelter.<\/p>\n
Tuesday's parade went off smoothly despite the fact that all
\nof the campaign teams had sent more than the 10 vehicles allowed.
\nThere were also no serious traffic jams during the parade that
\nlasted until 1:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
From Monas Park the floats passed through Jl. Medan Merdeka
\nBarat, Jl. M.H. Thamrin, Jl. Sudirman and to the Semanggi
\ncloverleaf, where they split up and went to Jakarta's five
\nmunicipalities.<\/p>\n
;JP;DJA;CD;
\nANPAa..r..
\nCampaign-candidates
\nCandidates woo people at market places
\nJP\/3\/BOX<\/p>\n
The five presidential candidates kicked off their first day of
\ncampaigning on Tuesday, with activities ranging from visiting
\ntraditional markets and family graves to holding closed-door
\nmeetings with business people.<\/p>\n
Megawati Soekarnoputri of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI-P) visited Jakarta's Tarakan Hospital, the
\nJatinegara public market in East Jakarta, the Senen Market, and
\nthe Glodok business center.<\/p>\n
\"I visited those places to show the public the (economic and
\npolitical) situation (in Indonesia) is secure and I appreciate
\nthe people's enthusiastic response to my campaign,\" Megawati
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Getting down with grass roots constituents was also a priority
\nfor Amien Rais of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and his
\nrunning mate, Siswono Yudohusodo, who visited the Cipinang rice
\nmarket in East Jakarta, where they talked to traders before
\neating lunch with them at the market.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Golkar Party candidate Gen. (ret) Wiranto chose a
\nmore personal beginning, visiting the graves of his parents in
\nSurakarta, Central Java, before holding a closed-door meeting
\nwith business people in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Democratic Party candidate Gen. (ret) Susilo
\nBambang Yudhoyono along with his deputy, Jusuf Kalla, focussed on
\ncampaign spin, opening the party's media center, before holding a
\nmeeting with United States Ambassador to Indonesia Ralf L. Boyce
\nin the afternoon.<\/p>\n
Nuts and bolts, however, were more important to Hamzah Haz and
\nAgum Gumelar of the United Development Party (PPP), who held a
\npress conference at the party's headquarters in Central Jakarta
\nto outline their policies. --JP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/candidates-float-ideas-in-rally-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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