Election exodus to West, Central Java starts<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Vendors, housemaids and other Jakartans flocked
\nto intercity bus terminals and train stations during the weekend
\nto reach home in time for the May 29 election.<\/p>\n
Terminals and stations were not as full as they were for the
\nLebaran exodus, but passengers had markedly increased during the
\npast few days.<\/p>\n
Although people who do not have Jakarta identification cards
\nare entitled to vote here, passengers said they preferred voting
\nin their hometowns. A few thought they had to vote in hometowns
\nwhere their identification cards had been issued.<\/p>\n
The Pulogadung terminal in East Jakarta recorded 939 buses
\ndeparted Saturday compared to the daily average of 800.<\/p>\n
A terminal official said main destinations were towns in Java.<\/p>\n
\"Travelers may peak today or tomorrow,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Travelers crammed into buses leaving to towns in Java such as
\nPurworejo, Purwokerto, Tegal and Cirebon. Many traveled with
\nfamily or friends. A terminal official said Purworejo buses were
\ncarrying up to 100 passengers while their normal capacity was 60.<\/p>\n
Many travelers, mostly low-income people, seemed fearful of
\nquestions regarding the election.<\/p>\n
\"Manto,\" a vendor selling martabak -- a thick egg dish with
\nspices and ground meat or cheese -- said he could not obtain a
\nregistration card for voting here because he did not have a
\nJakarta identification card.<\/p>\n
He said he would try to vote in his hometown in Tegal because
\nhe had a Tegal identification card. He did not know registration
\nclosed May 20 last year.<\/p>\n
Another passenger said he was returning because a relative had
\nlisted his name as a voter in his hometown.<\/p>\n
Atmo, a street vendor, said he was heading for Surakarta in
\nCentral Java for both the election and a family reunion.<\/p>\n
\"I will be there for about two weeks and then I will look for
\na better job here,\" Atmo said.<\/p>\n
At the Lebak Bulus terminal in South Jakarta bus companies
\nplying routes between Jakarta and Java each provided at least two
\nmore buses daily up until election day, a company representative
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Sri Rejeki, a maid heading for Magelang, Central Java, said,
\n\"I don't want the village head to think I didn't return to vote.\"<\/p>\n
Sukawad, a construction worker in Cilandak, South Jakarta,
\nsaid he was given a week's leave to vote in his village in
\nPurwokerto, Central Java.<\/p>\n
Sukawad said he felt he had to vote in his village where his
\nidentity card had been issued, and was looking forward to a
\nfamily reunion.<\/p>\n
Sukamto, a supervisor of a wielding company, said he left his
\njob for a week without permission.<\/p>\n
\"Anyway, I asked my friends to take over my job while I'm not
\nhere,\" he said. (10\/03)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/election-exodus-to-west-central-java-starts-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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