Election tactics upset PPP<\/p>\n
SURABAYA (JP): The United Development Party (PPP) accused the
\nlocal administration yesterday of unfairly sidelining it in favor
\nof its rival, the ruling Golkar group.<\/p>\n
PPP chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum branded the practice as
\nviolating \"the morals and principles of fair and just politics\"
\nroutinely trumpeted by the government.<\/p>\n
Ismail made the remarks at a celebration of the Moslem-
\noriented party's 24th anniversary, attended by about 30,000
\npeople at the 10 November sports stadium here.<\/p>\n
A motorcade of an estimated 4,000 vehicles deafened the city,
\nIndonesia's second largest, as party activists screamed party
\nslogans and pointed their forefingers into the air, the symbol of
\nthe PPP.<\/p>\n
Also present were prominent Moslem preachers from East Java
\nwell-known for their ardent support of the PPP, such as Sofyah of
\nSitubondo, Alawy Mohamad of Madura, and Nadhir Mohamad of
\nJember.<\/p>\n
Ismail, or Buya as he is better known, pointed to recent
\nincidents in several villages of the Pasuruan regency in East
\nJava, where local government officials banned PPP calendars.<\/p>\n
\"They replaced them with almanacs displaying photographs of
\nthe regent, district military chief, and chief of the Pasuruan
\nGolkar chapter,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Ismail said the PPP had officially filed a complaint with
\nArmed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung, who said he would look
\ninto the matter.<\/p>\n
Another unfair practice, he said, is the ongoing removal of
\nPPP banners from locations around East Java.<\/p>\n
In the May 29 election, the PPP will vie for 425 seats in the
\n500-member House of Representatives against Golkar and the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party (PDI). The remaining 75 seats are
\nreserved for the Armed Forces.<\/p>\n
Ismail told the press that some of the party's provisional
\nlegislative candidates in the Bojonegoro regency of East Java had
\nbeen crossed off the list by government officials.<\/p>\n
Also in Bojonegoro, he said, the authorities have been
\nquestioning two government officials for allegedly using the
\nparty's stamp and letterhead.<\/p>\n
Statement<\/p>\n
Ismail said he welcomed President Soeharto's recent statement
\nthat civil servants had no political obligations and were not
\nexpected to help Golkar or any other contestant.<\/p>\n
According to Buya, the president's statement should be
\nunderstood as a recognition that civil servants are only
\nresponsible for administrative, not political, matters.<\/p>\n
\"It means it is wrong for civil servants to stare at people or
\nintimidate them into voting for a certain contestant. Nor should
\nthere be any obligation for them to recruit at least 10 people to
\nvote for Golkar,\" he said, referring to an alleged government
\ntactic.<\/p>\n
Ismail warned that winning an election through intimidation
\nwas tantamount to setting off a time bomb.<\/p>\n
He also called on party members to reject any attempts or
\noffers by political adventurers to join their cause as they would
\nonly be victimized.<\/p>\n
\"The victims are always the common people while the real
\nculprits are always safe and untouchable,\" Buya said.<\/p>\n
On the same occasion, in his letter to the PPP read out in the
\nceremony, famous poet and a supporter of the party, Emha Ainun
\nNajib, called on PPP supporters to fight against social
\ninjustices and authoritarianism.<\/p>\n
Emha told the PPP to strengthen its commitment to defending
\nthe common people. (nur\/aan)<\/p>\n
Editorial -- Page 4<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/election-tactics-upset-ppp-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }