Arts performance breaks out at rally

BANDUNG: Poor preparation left a planned campaign rally at Saparua sports hall here on Thursday without any campaigners, but the crowd did not go home disappointed.

No executives from the Umat Awakening Party (PKU) appeared to address the hundreds of people who packed the sports venue. The last minute announcement of the campaign schedule by the local elections committee was apparently to blame for the missing campaigners.

Despite knowing there would be no campaign speeches, the crowd refused to leave. They braved the heat and began to dance, read poems and sing.

The impromptu arts festival ended after half an hour, making the rally the shortest the campaign season has seen so far. (43)