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."