All three parties agree to stop holding street rallies in capital

All three parties agree to stop holding street rallies in capital

JAKARTA (JP): Representatives of the three parties' Jakarta
branches signed a statement Saturday pledging not to hold large
rallies or parades in the capital in the last week of
campaigning.

The joint statement was signed by Rusjdi Hamka of the United
Development Party (PPP), Tadjus Sobirin of Golkar and Lukman F.
Mokoginta of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).

They signed the statement after reviewing recent campaign
violence.

The statement called for all supporters to heed their
resolution. Based on Saturday's agreement, only small
subdistrict-based "dialog campaigns" may be held in the last week
of campaigning, which will end Friday.

Cadres were also told to remain vigilant against "groups who
wanted to exploit the campaign to disrupt peace and order".

The statement warned of "certain groups planning to disrupt or
even sabotage the 1997 election". About 120 million voters will
go to the polls on May 29.

The three leaders expressed their regret in the statement on
the disturbances and the damage it had caused.

"Let us make the 1997 election a vehicle of political
education of increasing quality.

"Strengthen the self-restraint of cadres of all the political
organizations while implementing Pancasila values," they said.

The signing of Saturday's statement came only hours before
Jakarta was again hit by sporadic clashes between rival party
supporters.

The agreement, despite being distributed to party offices,
went unheeded Sunday because Golkar supporters proceeded with
street rallies which resulted in serious clashes in many parts of
the city.

Police again used tear gas to stop Golkar and United
Development Party supporters fighting. (mds)