'PDI won't expect much from election'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Legal barriers have forced the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party (PDI) to throw in the towel before contesting
\nthe May 29 general election, a member of the party said
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Budi Hardjono, a supporter of the government-recognized
\nSoerjadi-led PDI, complained yesterday the new election rules
\nwould hamper the party from making a full use of the period
\nallotted for campaigning between April 29 to May 23.<\/p>\n
\"It will be hard for us to perform even as well as we did five
\nyears ago,\" Budi said. \"Rallies are the best tool for encouraging
\nthe masses to make their choice,\" he added.<\/p>\n
The party would not expect too much from the upcoming election
\nbut would continue the consolidation of cadres, preparing
\ncontrolling measures for the election day and intensifying
\ninternal communication prior to the election, according to Budi.<\/p>\n
The PDI, the United Development Party (PPP) and the ruling
\npolitical grouping Golkar will be vying for 425 seats in the
\nHouse of Representatives.<\/p>\n
The PDI, regularly bottom-place in the last four elections,
\nenjoyed a slight increase by winning 15 percent of the vote in
\n1992. The PPP gained 16 percent of the ballot. Golkar scored its
\nfifth straight unanimous victory with 68 percent, but lost 17
\nseats.<\/p>\n
Budi said the government had suffered a setback after issuing
\nelection rules unfavorable to the contesting parties.<\/p>\n
The rules allocate time for each competitor to expand its
\ncampaign range to villages. Past general elections allowed
\ncampaigning only in the capital cities of Indonesia's 27
\nprovinces and 241 regencies.<\/p>\n
But the campaign schedule obliges the three parties to
\ncampaign in pre-designated areas, sometimes in two far-distant
\ntowns on the same day. In the last election, the government let
\neach party arrange their own schedule.<\/p>\n
\"In reality, we will have only nine days to hold rallies due
\nto the scheduling, unless we have enough funds to speed up our
\nmobility,\" Budi said.<\/p>\n
A similar complaint had been raised by PPP secretary-general
\nTosari Wijaya who said the party might withdraw from the
\nelection. PPP chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum said Tuesday the
\nparty would announce its official stance on the new rules after a
\nleadership meeting early in March.<\/p>\n
Budi said that despite the fact that the new rules would
\naffect all three contestants, only one would survive.<\/p>\n
\"We are preparing for a tough job while we are facing internal
\nproblems. To make matters worse, a certain competitor is unfairly
\nprovided with facilities,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Commenting on the complaint, Director General for Social and
\nPolitical Affairs Sutoyo N.K. said yesterday each competitor
\nwould cope if they prepared well for the election.<\/p>\n
Asked about the financial shortage, Sutoyo said the government
\nwould take it into consideration.<\/p>\n
He also asked PPP not to worry about its limited campaigning
\nresources, saying each contestant was allowed to use state-owned
\ntelevision TVRI and state-owned radio RRI to broadcast programs
\nto remote areas.<\/p>\n
Sutoyo said the government would not take punitive measures
\nagainst any party which failed to complete the campaigning
\nschedule.<\/p>\n
\"A rally will depend on a party's capability. They don't have
\nto do it if they cannot manage it,\" he said. (imn\/amd)<\/p>",
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