Banner war outside palace

YOGYAKARTA: The United Development Party (PPP) and Golkar are embroiled in a war of banners outside Sultan Hamengku Buwono X's palace.

PPP fired the first shot last week when it erected a large poster, reading "The beloved Sultan is for PPP" in a refined Javanese language.

The next day, Golkar placed its own banner, of about the same size, saying "People in and around the palace must vote Golkar" in the same dialect.

Enraged, PPP supporters fixed another banner, reading "Common people living on the sultan's land (around the palace) will vote PPP".

Earlier this week, royal security guards became exasperated with the war of words when PPP scribbled, "The Sultan is for PPP" on a palace fence. The guards, whose post is located near the wall, erased the graffiti the next day. (38/pan)