Sopporters hunt for money in Golkar capaigning<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Time is money -- especially that of time-pressed women, as one
\ncampaigning political party found out.<\/p>\n
Four women were ushered into one of three minivans prepared by
\nGolkar Party campaign organizers in Kembangan subdistrict in West
\nJakarta on Wednesday. The vehicle was to take them to a campaign
\nsite some four kilometers away.<\/p>\n
Unlike other campaign participants, the women were not wearing
\nyellow Golkar T-shirts and were told there were none left.<\/p>\n
In the van the women wondered out loud how much they would be
\npaid. One of them in tattered clothes said that someone had
\ninformed them that the organizers had allocated money for those
\nwho took part in campaign rallies.<\/p>\n
After a few minutes, one of them piped up, \"Where's the
\nmoney?\" The four, including one who was pregnant, then looked for
\nconfirmation from the field operators about their payment.<\/p>\n
They then left the van, saying no one could give them a
\nsatisfactory answer.<\/p>\n
\"It is better to stay at home if there is no money,\" one woman
\ngrumbled. The minivan, with a capacity of 12 passengers, finally
\ndeparted for the campaign site with only six people on board.<\/p>\n
One of the organizers, who declined to mention his name,
\ndenied that funds had been allocated for campaign participants.<\/p>\n
But a local, Toni, said it was likely that all campaign
\nparticipants had received money. The participants, he said, had
\nalso taken part in campaigns organized by other parties on
\nprevious days.<\/p>\n
\"They change into T-shirts of different colors every day,\"
\nToni said, referring to the colors of T-shirts of political
\nparties.<\/p>\n
Campaign organizers also hire \"supporters\", often including
\nojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers.<\/p>\n
Ojek drivers who operate in the vicinity of Harapan Kita
\nHospital in West Jakarta advertise their services on a sign that
\nreads \"Accept campaign orders from any political party.\"<\/p>\n
However, many other people in campaigns of various parties,
\nincluding Golkar, have also said they are genuine supporters who
\npay for their own transportation and snacks.<\/p>\n
Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) chairman Komaruddin
\nHidayat complained of the absence of a strong law by which to
\ntake action against election violations, such as vote-buying.<\/p>\n
Under the Election Law, vote-buying is punishable by a penalty
\nof only two to 12 months in jail and a Rp 10 million fine. One
\nyear in jail compared to the possible impact of \"money politics\"
\nis meaningless, Komaruddin said.<\/p>",
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