Many baffled by voting options<\/p>\n
By Stevie Emilia<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): An ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver proudly
\ndisplayed his hat bearing the symbol of the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and, while waiting for
\npassengers, chatted with his friends about the party's past
\nachievements.<\/p>\n
Maman, who operates in North Jakarta's Pademangan area, said
\nhe bought the hat from a sidewalk vendor for Rp 5,000.<\/p>\n
\"I want to vote for PDI Perjuangan, Ibu Mega's party,\" said
\nthe junior high school graduate confidently.<\/p>\n
He was referring to Megawati Soekarnoputri, PDI Perjuangan's
\nchairwoman and presidential candidate.<\/p>\n
But when asked about the party's identifying number for the
\ncoming elections, with a broad smile, Maman answered: \"It's
\nthree, right?\"<\/p>\n
Without realizing his mistake, he looked at his friends, also
\nojek drivers, to seek approval. Almost spontaneously, they all
\nnodded in agreement.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan's identifying number is actually 11. But
\nMaman's mistake is understandable given that in the old days when
\nthere were only three official political parties, PDI's number
\nwas three -- number one was the United Development Party (PPP)
\nand two was Golkar.<\/p>\n
The number of parties, however, has swollen to 48. With so
\nmany parties contesting the June 7 elections, people are more
\nlikely to mix up the parties' identifying numbers. To add the
\nconfusion, there are also parties with similar symbols.<\/p>\n
Six parties use a bull as their symbol. They are the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party (PDI), the Indonesian National Party (PNI), the
\nPNI-Front Marhaenis, the Indonesian National Party-Marhaen (PNI-
\nMassa Marhaen) and the National Democratic Party (PND).<\/p>\n
Eighteen parties use a star or several stars as their symbol.
\nSome combine a star with a crescent.<\/p>\n
This year's elections, expected to be the first free and fair
\nelections in decades, have become a hot topic not only among
\nexperts and politicians, but also among ordinary people.<\/p>\n
A Kosti taxi driver, Simanjuntak (not his real name) said he
\ndid not vote in the last elections, but would exercise his right
\nthis time.<\/p>\n
But he said he had yet to find a party that was \"closest to
\nhis heart\".<\/p>\n
\"There are too many parties... One minute I want to vote for
\nthis, and then the next for that. But honestly, there's no party
\nthat I really know about,\" said the father of three. \"Maybe when
\nit comes time to vote I'll just close my eyes and pick one,\" he
\nlaughed.<\/p>\n
He says that as a taxi driver, he spends much of his time on
\nthe road and does not have time to read newspapers or to watch TV
\nto learn about each party.<\/p>\n
\"I leave home in the morning and return home before midnight.
\nSo by the time I get back, all I need is a good sleep,\" said the
\nsenior high school graduate.<\/p>\n
He also does not know much about the \"early\" campaigns
\nconducted by some parties.<\/p>\n
\"I know that there are many banners belonging to some parties
\non every corner of the city these days. But what do the banners
\nreally mean to people like me?\" he asked.<\/p>\n
But he does have a desire: \"I wish that whichever party wins
\nthe election will fight for justice, without discrimination, for
\nboth the poor and the rich. And I also hope there'll be no
\nriots.\"<\/p>\n
People's confusion might pose a threat to the success of the
\nelections.<\/p>\n
Political observer Muhammad A.S. Hikam of the Indonesian
\nInstitute of Sciences warns that people's confusion might make
\nthem less enthusiastic, or even reluctant, to vote.<\/p>\n
\"But the main danger is people voting recklessly, voting for
\nany party. People might even vote for unknown parties,\" he said.<\/p>\n
After all the years when people only had to choose between
\nthree parties, it will be a new experience for them to pick one
\nout of the 48 parties contesting next month's elections.<\/p>\n
Hikam cited a joke about PAN chairman and presidential
\ncandidate Amien Rais' experience when campaigning in Surakarta,
\nCentral Java, as an example of people's confusion.<\/p>\n
\"I don't know whether this joke is true or not, but it's what
\nI heard. And I think it can be taken as people's wisdom. There,
\nAmien asks a woman to vote for PAN. She says 'yes, PAN'. Then
\nAmien asks her whether she knows what PAN's party symbol is, and
\nshe answers, 'yes, beringin (the banyan tree)'.\"<\/p>\n
The banyan tree is the symbol of the Golkar Party, which was
\nthe dominant party under former president Soeharto for over 30
\nyears. PAN's symbol is a white sun on a blue background.<\/p>\n
Hikam urged all parties, including small ones, to familiarize
\nthe public with their parties to prevent confusion among people,
\nespecially those living in remote areas.<\/p>\n
\"Familiarization is very important as there are too many
\nparties now,\" he said. \"A lack of familiarization will only
\nbenefit Golkar.\"<\/p>\n
He added that big parties had so far had no problem with
\nfamiliarizing the public, as could be seen through their banners
\ndecorating most cities.<\/p>\n
\"But where's all the small parties? What have they been doing
\nall this time?\" he asked.<\/p>\n
He said the parties could not completely rely on the General
\nElections Commission (KPU) to familiarize the public, but added
\nthat the government should help fund the process.<\/p>\n
Independent monitoring organizations, he said, have
\nfamiliarized the public about parties contesting the elections
\ndespite their limited funding, human resources and time.<\/p>\n
\"Hopefully there won't be many people who are confused (about
\nwho to vote for),\" Hikam said.<\/p>",
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