Campaign enthusiasts cite faith, family and fees

Campaign enthusiasts cite faith, family and fees

By Tanra Alam, Israr Ardiansyah and Asip Agus Hasani

JAKARTA (JP): Scholars have deplored the lack of political
education in the campaign season this year, saying that old
tricks are being used to court the support of the masses. But
such criticisms are lost to campaign enthusiasts, who say they
may or might not vote for the party involved.

The party program and its leaders, the fun of campaigns,
family ties and attendance payments were reasons cited for
joining campaigns.

In Palu, Central Sulawesi, at least 100 pedicab drivers and
eight motorcycle taxi drivers joined approximately 2,000 cadres
and supporters of the Golkar Party on Friday. The pedicabs were
lined up in two rows with the motorcycles leading.

In the middle of the front row of the pedicabs a banner in the
Bugis language read: "Taro ada taro gau. Siri'na Habibie siri'ta
maneng. Masse'diki to'doi Golkar."

More or less this means: "We must stay steadfast. The pride of
(President B.J.) Habibie is the pride of all of us. Let us unite
and vote for Golkar."

Similar banners were in other dialects from Sulawesi -- the
Mandar and Bugis of South Sulawesi and the Kalili dialect of
Central Sulawesi -- reflecting the cultural closeness of the
people of this region with Habibie. Unsurprisingly, this is a
traditional Golkar stronghold.

But generalizations can be misleading. Despite the banner amid
the pedicabs, one driver said he would not vote for Golkar.

Daeng, 45, said "I am a small person and ignorant, but I think
it would be better if other parties were given a chance. That way
we could judge which is better."

He said he had agreed to participate in the campaign because
his friend had said they would receive Rp 5,000 each.

"All pedicab drivers would pose the same question (regarding
participation in campaigns)," he said. "If we are asked to join,
we would ask whether there is any money. If there wasn't, we
wouldn't be here. We have to work to get money."

Ridwan, 40, another pedicab driver, also said they were
promised money, but added it was no problem if they were not
paid.

He said his main motivation in joining the campaigns was "so
the officials notice our presence, so the permit for pedicab
operations in Palu town, which we have been fighting for, can be
immediately issued".

Apparently, pedicab drivers associated the Golkar Party with
the local administration in charge of pedicab operations.

A motorcycle driver at the same campaign site said he and his
colleagues were not Golkar supporters, despite their presence at
Paul Puter field. They said they preferred Megawati Soekarnoputri
and her Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan).

The driver, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, described
how crowds flocked to see Megawati when she recently came to
campaign in Palu. Attendance at her rally far outnumbered the
Golkar crowds that Friday. He said with conviction: "The people
(at the Golkar campaign) may not really vote for Golkar, like my
friends and I. But we would rather come here than spend energy
taking passengers. We get some money here and join in the fun."

He pointed to his Golkar vest, saying he borrowed it from a
neighbor. "But I have lots of PDI Perjuangan attributes. You can
check at my house if you don't believe me."

In Yogyakarta, resident Pandoyo, 19, said he participated in
the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
campaigns because of Ibu Megawati, and because his neighbor was a
member of its security guard force and often asked him to come
along "just to drive around the city". "Just try riding a
motorcycle with the muffler taken off, you'd be chased away by
crowds, but in a big group in a campaign no one cares.

"My classmate often joins campaigns of various parties,
sometimes PDI Perjuangan, sometimes the National Awakening Party
(PKB) and others," Pandoyo said. "He said he just enjoys joining
campaigns of different parties, maybe just for the fun."

Also in Yogyakarta, Doni, who joined the Justice and Unity
Party (PKP) campaign last week, said he participated because his
father was a retired soldier. Several retired officers formed the
party, including chairman Edi Sudrajat, a former minister of
defense.

"Now my father is a member of Pepabri (the association of
veterans), most of them are in PKP."

Besides, Doni added, PKP was reimbursing him for the gas, "so
it's better than sitting idle at home". Also, "getting the chance
of touring around like this (in a street rally) only comes once a
year. And we'll get dinner at the PKP office later, in addition
to a T-shirt and cap. Not bad eh?"

Doni, 20, added that it was worthy to support PKP's campaign
because the party stressed unity. "The country seems on the brink
of breaking up. I hope if PKP wins, Indonesia can remain intact."

He said he had never listened to campaign speeches by party
leaders. "It's even my first time to join a motorcycle campaign,
just for fun."

Doni said he was almost certain he would vote for PKP. He said
he might change his mind, but did not elaborate.

Solikhaturn, a campaign participant of the Muslim Community
Awakening Party (PKU) in Yogyakarta, said her motive to join
rallies "was because this is the party I choose".

"I believe if PKU wins, religious life will be better," the
22-year old said while distributing party leaflets. "The
government's attention to religious institutions such as
pesantren boarding schools and to religious teachers will be
better."

A student of the Universitas Islam Indonesia here, as well as
the owner of a computer shop, Haryo Dento, said since 1987 he had
supported campaigns of the United Development Party (PPP).

Now he supports the Crescent Star Party (PBB), whose leaders
say they rely on the loyalty of the older and younger generation
for Masyumi, a party banned for alleged involvement in rebel
movements. Masyumi was one of the big winners in the 1955 polls.

Haryo said being a former PPP loyalist and a current PBB fan
"suits my family background (as they) were supporters of the
Masyumi Party".

Apart from PBB, several new parties have also claimed links to
the Masyumi Party.

Since he was first eligible to vote, Haryo said he had been
active in PPP "because I think however small a party's role is,
it will eventually be useful". He claimed that parties like PPP
and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) had become "bonsai" and
were prevented from growing (PDI Perjuangan broke away from PDI).

"But if we don't choose a party, who will stand up against the
(remnants of) the New Order?"

He said the PPP "had proved to be a significantly effective
balancing power on the government", so far dominated by Golkar.

But although Haryo said he enthusiastically joined PBB
campaigns and supported the party "to keep Masyumi alive", he
preferred the chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN), Amien
Rais, for the role of future president.

"I don't understand why many in PBB don't see Amien as a
friend. I think leaders (of Islam) should unite and Muslim
parties should not be antipathetic to PAN," he said.

Still in Yogyakarta, Rama J. Sakti who studies at the Wdiya
Wiwaha School of Economics said although he used to join PPP
rallies, he now participated in National Mandate Party (PAN)
campaigns.

"I just joined my friends, they also joined PPP rallies (in
the 1997 campaign season)," he said.

At the time, he was a student of the Muhammadiyah High School
in Yogyakarta, run by the influential Muslim organization of the
same name which used to be chaired by Amien Rais.

What is important for so many people is that one has the
opportunity to get around on motorbikes all day. "I enjoy
rallies, there are many friends there," he said, adding that he
rarely listened to campaigners.

"The police never ticket us when we violate traffic rules."

In addition, he said the PAN convoys had a better public
image. "The convoys are friendlier and they're not brutal. The
impression is that the party is more intelligent."

Another student in Yogyakarta, Aji, said he participated in
the campaigns of the Democratic People's Party (PRD) because he
was asked to by its members. "I am a believer and I joined to add
mass support rather than having no one join their campaign." PRD,
set up when the government only recognized three political
parties and frequently charged of being communist, acknowledges
it does not have mass support.

Aji, who studies at Gadjah Mada University, said PRD had
"consistently struggled against the New Order regime".

"Demands to remove the military's dual role, the revoking of
political laws and demanding that former president Soeharto quit
were issues that PRD raised long before the new parties," Aji
said while attending a joint parade of all parties contesting the
poll in Yogyakarta.

Although there was little chance of PRD winning seats Aji said
he would still support its campaign because "the party will still
lead in terms of its views" which he said had been adopted by
other parties.

In Surakarta, a supporter of the Golkar Party said he was
happy to be able to watch dangdut music performances at
campaigns. In addition he had received a T-shirt, vest and cap,
and transport and meal allowances. He said he was not afraid to
join the rallies, which have met with widespread hostility,
because he removed the uniform after campaign events. "Besides,
five of my neighbors also joined the Golkar campaigns."

Joko, 28, and a trader at a market here, said he also attended
PAN campaigns for their dangdut shows.

"I don't listen to the campaign speeches, but my friend says
Golkar has a lot of money and has more experience.

"Among Golkar people there are many governors, regents and
village heads. My friend said if another party wins they would
not have experience and none of their people would be officials."