500,000 join peace parade in Yogyakarta
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)
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)