500,000 join peace parade in Yogyakarta

YOGYAKARTA (JP): Unlike their counterparts who have fought in many parts of the country, more than 500,000 supporters of 36 political parties contesting the upcoming general election took to the streets here on Sunday for a joint rally aimed at promoting peaceful elections.

The parade, attended by Governor Hamengkubuwono X, began at Tugu monument in the heart of the city, wound its way through several main streets and ended at Hamengkubuwono's sultanate palace. The streets were blocked off during the rally, causing traffic jams on a number of side streets.

Just before the parade began, Hamengkubuwono, along with the local chiefs of the participating parties, released a pair of white doves, the symbol of peace.

The rally resembled a cultural festival at times, with sultanate soldiers in their traditional uniforms and art performances by a number of party supporters. The National Mandate Party (PAN) stole the show with a performance of the barongsay, a traditional Chinese dance, put on by local Chinese- Indonesian PAN supporters.

Besides PAN, other parade participants included the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Golkar Party, the National Awakening Party (PKB), the Crescent Star Party (PBB), the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), the Ummat Awakening Party (PKU), the Justice and Unity Party (PKP) and the United Development Party (PPP).

Only 36 of the 48 parties contesting the general election have party branches in the province.

Local party executives and supporters carried banners and flags and screamed out their party's platform.

Mustofa, who carried a PKB flag, praised the parade for encouraging supporters of rival parties to maintain peace.

"Such an event is a very effective method for parties to introduce themselves and their programs to the people," he added.

Cosmas, a Catholic Democrat Party supporter, shared Mustofa's view, saying a small party like his needed such an event to socialize its programs.

He said he disagreed with the old campaign method of mass mobilization because it led to clashes among supporters of rival parties.

A minor clash, however, followed the peace rally when a group of PAN supporters were stoned in Kauman area, long known as PPP stranglehold. Four of the PAN supporters suffered slight wounds.

Reconciliation

Hamengkubuwono said the parade was expected to raise the people's appreciation of the participating parties and politics in general.

"Therefore, parties are expected to put on their best performances and offer their political platforms and programs to the people."

"The best parties are those which campaign the most effectively, are able to attract people to their party and make the people feel safe. We don't need parties which cause people to hide in their homes for fear of clashes among party supporters."

He said the parade, which was organized by the Forum for Communication for Parties in Yogyakarta, was organized following the signing of a reconciliation agreement by the 36 political parties with branches in the province on March 26.

"After the reconciliation agreement, the parties pledged not to allow clashes among their supporters in the future," Hamengkubuwono said.

Four people were killed in Yogyakarta in a clash involving supporters of PDI Perjuangan and PPP on March 21. Several others were injured and still are receiving medical treatment.

The clash broke out several days after two PDI Perjuangan command posts in the city were set on fire.

Yogyakarta military district chief Lt. Col. Edhy Riyanto said some 34,000 security personnel were deployed to maintain order during the parade.

Hamengkubuwono denied the parade was a political campaign, saying it was held to introduce parties to local people and to develop the people's political knowledge.

"This is not an election campaign or a violation of the 1999 law on general elections, but a parade which will help local people select which parties they will vote for," he said.

The General Elections Commission has set the campaign period for the general election from May 19 to June 4.

Yogyakarta Police chief Col. Bani Siswono defended the parade, saying he allowed the event to go ahead because it did not violate the law.

Th. Soemardjono, the head of PDI Perjuangan's local branch, said: "The parade is an agreement among the 36 parties to create harmony among party supporters in the city." (23/44/rms)