Third campaign day peaceful in Jakarta<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The third day of campaigning passed smoothly on
\nFriday, with no single party dominating the city's streets.<\/p>\n
Some lesser known parties avoided staging large rallies and
\ninstead distributed flowers, sparing city residents the ordeal of
\nendless traffic jams.<\/p>\n
Activities in the commercial districts of Glodok in West
\nJakarta, and Senen and Jl. Gunung Sahari in Central Jakarta
\ncontinued as usual.<\/p>\n
At least 2,000 supporters of the National Awakening Party
\n(PKB), wearing the party's white and green t-shirts, flocked to
\nthe Tugu soccer field in Koja, North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The party's founder, Abdurrahman Wahid, who was due to deliver
\na speech, failed to appear at the rally. His supporters were
\ninstead forced to make do with listening to a recording of
\nAbdurrahman's political views before the party's campaign was
\nofficially kicked off.<\/p>\n
The party's Koja chief, Muchid R., told supporters that the
\nPKB would protect all the country's ethnic groups.<\/p>\n
\"The narrow-eyed, the wide-eyed, the black-skinned, the white-
\nskinned -- all will be protected if the PKB wins the election,\"
\nMuchid said.<\/p>\n
Muchid reiterated that the party was the only party for
\nnahdliyin, the name given to members of the 30 million-strong
\nNahdlatul Ulama Muslim organization chaired by Abdurrahman. A
\nnumber of parties have been founded by NU executives.<\/p>\n
\"We now have our own party,\" Muchid said. \"Do not choose a
\nparty which fought in previous elections,\" he added.<\/p>\n
In 1984, the NU announced it was returning to its 1926
\nprincipal of non-involvement in politics, leaving political
\nchoices to individual members. Abdurrahman and other NU leaders
\nhave recently been criticized for urging members to choose the
\nPKB.<\/p>\n
Also on Friday, the Justice and Unity Party (PKP) campaigned
\nat Pademangan and Kelapa Gading in North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
During his speech, PKP chairman Edi Sudradjat, a former
\nminister of defense and Golkar executive, criticized his former
\nparty for failing to provide the people with basic needs like
\nstaple food and equality before the law.<\/p>\n
\"Don't choose parties which support the status quo,\" he told
\n1,000 supporters.<\/p>\n
The crowds at Bermis soccer field in Kelapa Gading were
\nentertained by a dangdut music performance, a debus traditional
\nshow and displays of pencak silat, a traditional martial art.<\/p>\n
When asked about the possibility of a coalition with other
\nparties, Edi said the PKP would only ally itself with parties
\ncampaigning on a \"nationalistic\" platform.<\/p>\n
\"We could have a coalition with parties like the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the National
\nAwakening Party (PKB), MKGR party and the Independence Vanguards
\nParty,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Campaigning on Friday also took in the All-Indonesian Workers
\nSolidarity Party (PSPSI), the Indonesian Nation's National Party
\n(PNBI), the Indonesian Unity in Diversity Party (PBI), the Suni
\nParty, the National Democrats Party (PND), the Indonesian Muslim
\nParty (PUMI) and the Indonesian Workers' Party (PPI).<\/p>\n
Not all contestants held mass gatherings, some, including the
\nPBI, PNBI and PSPSI, distributed flowers and brochures.<\/p>\n
PBI supporters handed out flowers and brochures on Jl.
\nFatmawati in South Jakarta and in nearby housing complexes and
\nmalls.<\/p>\n
\"We avoided a mass gathering because we did not want to risk
\nprovoking clashes with rival supporters,\" PBI chairman Daniel
\nAbbas said.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the PSPSI's Central Jakarta branch, David
\nIrdawin Bahrul, said the party sent out 300 cadres to paste
\nposters in public places around Pademangan in North Jakarta and
\nCempaka Putih and Jl. Matraman in East Jakarta.(ind\/jun)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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