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.