PDI opposes govt ban on Mega-bintang banners<\/p>\n
UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): The government-recognized
\nfaction of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) opposed
\nyesterday the government ban on campaign material on the alliance
\nbetween ousted PDI chief Megawati Soekarnoputri and the United
\nDevelopment Party (PPP).<\/p>\n
PDI deputy chairman Ismunandar said the \"temporary\" alliance
\nhad emerged because some members were disappointed by the party's
\nsplit.<\/p>\n
\"Why should the government ban them?\" he asked after
\naddressing a gathering of 500 PDI supporters in Karebossi stadium
\nhere yesterday. \"It (the alliance) would not have a serious
\nimpact on the PDI vote this year.\"<\/p>\n
\"I believe the Megawati loyalists will still vote for PDI when
\nthey are in the polling booths,\" he said.<\/p>\n
On Monday, the government banned banners and pictures
\ninscribed with \"Mega-bintang,\" a nickname for the Megawati-PPP
\nalliance, during PPP campaigning. Bintang (star) is the symbol of
\nthe Moslem-based PPP.<\/p>\n
But the ban has only worked in some regions. No posters or
\nflags bearing the words \"Mega-bintang\" had been seen at rallies
\nyesterday in Bima, West Nusa Tenggara, Antara reported.<\/p>\n
\"We have not seen any display of Mega-bintang banners and
\npictures in the PPP's election campaign here,\" the Bima regency
\nElection Supervision Committee's chief, Muharram, said.<\/p>\n
In Jambi, the PPP regional chapter's chief, Yusuf Husin, said
\nthat about 300 Megawati loyalists had pledged their support for
\nthe PPP. He said his office appreciated the support but wanted
\nthe PDI supporters to state this in writing.<\/p>\n
\"We can't accept their support just like that. It must be
\nreinforced with a written statement as authentication of their
\nallegiance to PPP,\" he said.<\/p>\n
But PDI Jambi branch chief Agus Sunarto said he had not
\nreceived any reports on the exodus of his supporters to the PPP.<\/p>\n
In Padang, West Sumatra, the regional chapter's chairman,
\nDarmadi, said the PPP had invited volunteers to register as
\nscrutineers for the May 29 election.<\/p>\n
There was little evidence of the alliance at PPP rallies in
\nSukabumi, West Java.<\/p>\n
But local PPP campaigner Natsir Zubaidi told PPP supporters
\nnot to get sucked into the Megawati-PPP phenomenon.<\/p>\n
\"Megawati supporters' involvement in the PPP's election
\ncampaign might not be spontaneous. Perhaps, it is part of a
\nmaneuver to tarnish the PPP's good image,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Election Supervision Committee's chief,
\nSinggih, said in Surabaya yesterday the PPP should be held
\nresponsible for the banners and pictures supporting the alliance.<\/p>\n
PPP chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum, who bumped into Singgih at
\nJuanda airport, said again that the PPP could not prevent people
\njoining its campaign.<\/p>\n
Separately, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Abdurrahman Wahid,
\nwho was thought to have formed a political alliance with Megawati
\nlast year, said in Surabaya yesterday the ban was \"hasty\".<\/p>\n
\"The ban created an impression that the government was in
\npanic,\" he said.<\/p>\n
His colleague, Choirul Anam, said Abdurrahman had spoken to
\nMegawati about the so-called aliance and was reportedly told that
\n\"she knew nothing about it.\"<\/p>\n
Later in the day, Ismail told supporters in Lombok, West Nusa
\nTenggara, that the party was committed to fighting for laws which
\ndid not contradict Islamic values.<\/p>\n
He said it was PPP's responsibility to defend the Moslems'
\ninterests by maintaining the purity of Islamic teachings.<\/p>\n
He said that if it seemed the PPP had not built mosques and
\nother Islamic buildings, it was not because the party lacked
\nresources.<\/p>\n
\"It's because the PPP believes that laws are the main issues,
\nas this will guarantee that the people will live happily and
\nsafely,\" he said. (pwn\/31\/imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pdi-opposes-govt-ban-on-mega-bintang-banners-1447893297",
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