Ad appeals for calm in campaign

Ad appeals for calm in campaign

SURABAYA (JP): The Brawijaya regional military commander, Maj.
Gen. Imam Utomo, has made a public appeal for security, stability
and unity through a newspaper advertisement.

But his quarter-page advertisement in several East Java
newspapers from May 7 to May 9 has been met by criticism and
protests.

The advertisement contained an eight-point appeal for national
unity and a declaration that the campaign was not a forum for
slander or division.

Point seven of the appeal was the most controversial. It said,
"... people should not choose brutal political parties."

United Development Party (PPP) officials immediately lashed
out over the advertisement, which led with Utomo's photo, saying
it was a hidden campaign for Golkar.

Utomo defended his advertisement yesterday by saying it had
been misinterpreted and that people were in a fuss about nothing.

"I had no intention of doing that (campaigning). My
responsibility is the safe and secure running of the election.
That's all," he said.

"All I wanted to do is make sure that everything runs
smoothly, it wasn't meant to say that anybody had acted brutally.
If anyone feels or reacts towards it then it means they probably
feel that they are a brutal lot," he was quoted by Antara as
saying.

Mudrick M. Sangidoe, head of PPP's branch in Surakarta,
Central Java, has openly chided Utomo's advertisement.

"The military commander is functioning as a covert campaigner.
As our security chief he shouldn't be doing this," Mudrick said
Sunday.

Political observer Ramlan Surbakty at the Airlangga University
defended Utomo. "The advertisement shows that he is functioning
as the man in charge of security during campaign and election,"
he said. "Only the point seven that shows (the hidden agenda)."

East Java residents have their own interpretation of the
advertisement. Benny, a teacher, said he planned not to vote
because "we're told not to vote for brutal parties. I think all
of the contestants are brutal." (26/mds)