1. DPD: 28 pt, 1 cols, 4 x 9
1. DPD: 28 pt, 1 cols, 4 x 9
Council
candidates
struggle to
lure voters
2. LOGISTICS: 36 pt, 4 cols, 1 x 28
Poll body assures public all is OK
3. CHAIRMAN: 50 pt, 2 cols, 4 x 12
Mega, Akbar
start subtle
mudslinging
in campaign
4. PANWASLU: 32 pt, 4 cols, 1 x 37
KPU drops ultimatum to President, VP
5. TRAIL: 20 pt, 1 cols, (Five stories) each head 2 x 14
Thousands of PAN
supporters bored
MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Most of some 1,000 supporters of the
National Mandate Party (PAN) abandoned PAN campaign on Friday,
held at Bumi Tamalanrea Permai field in Makassar city.
Most of the supporters initially flooded the field at 1 p.m
and listened attentively to the PAN campaigners, who spelled out
PAN programs.
But, few minutes later, they became boring and started to flee
the field. The supporters mounted into their motorcycles, some
got into their cars, and they joined PAN convoy across Makassar
street.
The similar phenomenon also happens at other political
parties, signing that people are not attracted to party programs,
instead, they are more interested to do street campaign. -- JP
Council buildings
emptied by campaign
SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: East Kalimantan provincial council
building on Jl. Karang Paci here was seen deserted on Friday, the
second day of election campaign, as most of councillors were busy
campaigning.
Only administrative staffers were seen in the office.
"Most of councillors are busy campaigning or holding meeting
with their constituents. However, they have promised that they
would come into office," said Effendy, a secretary to C
Commission at the provincial council.
The last meeting was held few days ago, when the councillors
discussed on provincial budget. But, only 21 out of total 45
councillors were present in the meeting, he said.
Sugeng Haryadi, a policy observer, lashed out at the
councillors, saying that they were selfish. -- JP
Journalists query
campaign prep
YOGYAKARTA: Local journalists questioned on Friday political
party preparations in the election campaign.
"I doubt whether the political parties are ready to campaign.
It is the second day of the campaign, but the political parties
are willing yet to inform poll organizer on where they will
campaign and who will be the campaigners," said Yuyuk Sugarman, a
local journalist.
The similar concern was raised by member of Yogyakarta
mayoralty's Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) Agus
Triyatno.
He complained that many political parties had yet to inform
Yogyakarta General Election Commission (KPU) on their campaign
schedule, so that it also posed a problem to Panwaslu. -- JP
PDI-P can't satisfy
people's aspirations
JAYAPURA, Papua: Whether they were nervous or emotional, but two
campaigners of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-
P) were difficult to spell "aspiration" when they campaigned at
Trikora field in Jayapura.
Rosiati Anwar, a legislative candidate from the party, had to
spell aspiration word three times before she came into the right
word.
"Brothers and sisters, vote for PDI-P, because this is the
only party that fights for people's
aspira...aspira...aspiration," she said.
The crowds quickly booed her.
The similar mistake was spoken by Frans Siriwa, another
candidate. -- JP
Supporters of PPD
demand T-shirts
SURABAYA: Several participants of the Indonesian Unity Party
(PPD) complained on Friday that they were not given T-shirts by
party officials.
They, parts of hundreds of crowds, shouted at party officials
on stage in Gelora Deltras stadium in Surabaya.
"We need T-shirts," they said.
The shouts certainly annoyed and disrupted the campaign.
Some of participants even abandoned the campaign area, after
there was no signs that the party's officials would distribute T-
shirts. -- JP
6. SIDELINES: 20 pt, 3 cols, 2 x 14
Mega does pole
dance with mike
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) leader
Megawati Soekarnoputri opened her first speech of the campaign
season in Bali with an Islamic salutation and then a Hindu one,
before firing up the crowd with a simple question: "Did you miss
me?"
The answer was a resounding "yes" to the President.
All in all, it was a good crowd and a successful campaign
stop. The only problem was caused by an uncooperative microphone
stand that refused to stay put. No matter what Megawati did, the
microphone kept sliding down. Three men jumped into action,
tightening the microphone stand and tying a plastic cord around
it keep it from slipping down. A sign?
Akbar rambles on
to silence rival
Golkar leader Akbar Tandjung had his own method for sidelining
fellow party member Surya Paloh, who did not obey the party's
ruling that among Golkar's six possible presidential candidates,
only Akbar can campaign outside of Java.
Defying the ruling, Surya campaigned on the same stage with
Akbar in Pekanbaru, Riau, on Thursday.
Akbar, a wily politician who just had a corruption conviction
overturned by the Supreme Court, did not give Surya the
opportunity to convince the public he deserves the presidential
seat.
The House of Representatives speaker made a lengthy speech and
then asked his wife Krisnina Maharani to approach the microphone
and give a speech. After that Akbar sang two songs, inviting
supporters to sing along with him.
According to Antara, Surya was left with only five minutes to
deliver his message because election rules require all campaign
stops to finish by 4 p.m.
Minister Yusril
a hit with women
Yusril Ihza Mahendra, the leader of the Crescent Star Party
(PBB), seems to have won the unofficial title as handsomest
politician.
Some of his women fans say the politician takes full advantage
of his looks, as reflected in his body language.
Yusril, who is also minister of justice and human rights, met
with a very special supporter on Thursday. When he entered a
building in Kuningan, located near his office, he was warmly
greeting by party supporters, many of them women and children.
He was at the building for an indoor campaign stop. He hugged
a child then shook hands with people in the small crowd.
"How handsome you are," said an elderly woman as she grabbed
onto the minister's hand as if she wasn't planning on letting it
go.
Yusril flashed the woman a smile and went on to address
supporters.