PDI's Jakarta chapter prepares campaigners<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The city chapter of the Indonesian Democratic
\nParty (PDI) opened a training session for campaigners Saturday
\nevening in East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The training, marred by an incident between PDI supporters,
\nwas held at a pesantren (Islamic boarding school) on Jl.
\nPenggilingan, East Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Police had tightly guarded the road by the afternoon, and riot
\npolice arrived following the incident.<\/p>\n
Participants said the scuffle was between PDI supporters.
\nParticipants from the government-backed camp under PDI leader
\nSoerjadi said a supporter of the rival camp of Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri tried to seize the jacket of a participant.<\/p>\n
This led to at least two people being hit in the face by
\npeople wearing a T-shirt bearing Megawati's picture.<\/p>\n
But other witnesses said it was difficult to identify those
\ninvolved, and suspected they were hired outsiders.<\/p>\n
Soerjadi opened the event and addressed 357 PDI supporters.<\/p>\n
He reminded campaigners that Jakarta was the only province
\nwhere PDI did not obtain an increase in votes in the last
\nelection held in 1992.<\/p>\n
In 1992, PDI secured 1,025,485 votes and 13 seats in the
\nJakarta City Council; Golkar obtained 2,445,047 votes and 32
\nseats, and the United Development Party, 1,135,342 votes and 15
\nseats.<\/p>\n
With the 27-day campaign period only 15 days away, Soerjadi
\nurged his supporters to work hard.<\/p>\n
The training took place in a area known as a Soerjadi
\nstronghold, a source with the training committee said.<\/p>\n
PDI will begin campaigning on April 29.<\/p>\n
Soerjadi said campaigners would face many rules "and the
\natmosphere will not be as lively as before".<\/p>\n
Parades are no longer allowed although convoys will continue
\nto transport supporters to campaign areas.<\/p>\n
Jakarta PDI chairman Lukman F. Mokoginta assured participants
\nthe party feud, in which chairwoman Megawati was unseated, would
\nnot affect votes.<\/p>\n
"Voters are not personally oriented but party oriented," he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Party split<\/p>\n
But one participant admitted he did not know of the party
\nsplit and would follow any camp supported by the government.
\nOthers said they had joined because they had nothing else to do.<\/p>\n
Mokoginta said the party would get new votes from first time
\nvoters who were PDI supporters in the 1992 election.<\/p>\n
He declined to say how many members had returned to PDI after
\nshifting to other parties.<\/p>\n
Party officials would not disclose in which areas they would
\nhold mass gatherings. From a contestant's allotted nine rounds
\nfor campaigns from April 27 to May 23, a campaign can be held for
\nfour rounds in subdistricts, three at district level and the
\nother two at mayoralty level.<\/p>\n
Supporters from other mayoralties are forbidden at one site.<\/p>\n
When asked how PDI would prevent this, Lukman said: "We have
\nno time to monitor such supporters, that is police business".
\n(13)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/pdis-jakarta-chapter-prepares-campaigners-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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