Activists demand reform coalition

YOGYAKARTA: Approximately 100 activists of the Democratic People's Party (PRD) staged a rally on Thursday to convey a demand that reform parties coalesce in order to prevent the revival of status quo forces embodied in Golkar.

The demonstration was held outside of the Provincial Elections Committee. Spokesman Haris Rusli Moti said they were concerned because preliminary results of vote counting showed that Golkar was gaining ground. Should Golkar win and unite with the military faction, which was allotted 38 non-elected seats at the House of Representatives, it could dominate the next government, he said.

"The only thing that could block the status quo force is a coalition between reform parties such as PAN, PDI Perjuangan, PKB, PK (Justice Party) and PUDI (Indonesian United Democratic Party)," he said.

"Under one condition, namely that the coalition was not merely a vote sharing deal or coalition of seats in the parliament, but a true coalition that will fight for programs for the people, involving all reform elements which include for pedicab drivers, workers, farmers, students and women," he said.

Moti said standing alone, the top parties such as PDI Perjuangan, PKB and PAN would not be able to prevent the status quo. The activists also voiced their support for PKB leader Abdurrahman Wahid's wish to build a civilian emergency government." (44/swa)