Candidates float ideas in rally
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Thousands of people lined up along Jl. M.H. Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman on Tuesday to watch the floats go by as the first day of a month-long presidential campaign began.
The people, mostly activists who support one of the candidates, waved flags when their favorite candidate's floats went by.
Many others, however, just stood on the sidewalk, enjoying the colorful decorations, some of the vehicles made to resemble food shops, mosques or ships.
Office clerks in high-rise buildings along the thoroughfares were also seen standing at the windows, watching the dozens of colorful floats.
Several vehicles had huge loud speakers with various types of music in a bid to get people to vote for their candidates. Several people also tossed out free pins, posters and T-shirts bearing the faces and names of the candidates.
The floats departed from the National Monument (Monas) Park, where the candidates all gathered and signed a plaque reading Ready to Accept Victory or Defeat, a simple gesture to demonstrate their readiness to hold peaceful campaigns.
"Millions of Indonesian eyes focus on this event with the hope that the election will be held in a peaceful and democratic way and will produce leaders who can take the country out of the crisis," said General Elections Commission (KPU) chairman Nazaruddin Syamsuddin.
Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso, chairman of the Jakarta General Election Commission (KPU Jakarta) Muhamad Taufik, National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar, Jakarta police chief Ins. Gen. Makbul Patmanagara and Jakarta Military commander Maj. Gen. Agus Sutadi were also present at the ceremony.
Around 20 floats of the Wiranto-Solahuddin Wahid pairing left the Monas Park at around 8:50 a.m., followed by floats of Megawati-Hasyim Muzadi, Amien Rais-Siswono Yudohusodo, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-Jusuf Kalla and Hamzah Haz-Agum Gumelar.
However, only Wiranto and Solahuddin were seen parading in an open truck as the officials apparently forgot to inform them that presidential and vice presidential candidates were not allowed to be exposed.
Susilo and Kalla were about to leave the park in an open jeep but were told to get down and got inside a sedan.
The arrangement disappointed many bystanders who had lined on the streets to get a first-hand glimpse of the candidates.
"Why were only Wiranto and Solahuddin in an open car. I came to see the candidates not these other people," said a woman at Bendungan Hilir busway shelter.
Tuesday's parade went off smoothly despite the fact that all of the campaign teams had sent more than the 10 vehicles allowed. There were also no serious traffic jams during the parade that lasted until 1:30 p.m.
From Monas Park the floats passed through Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat, Jl. M.H. Thamrin, Jl. Sudirman and to the Semanggi cloverleaf, where they split up and went to Jakarta's five municipalities.
;JP;DJA;CD; ANPAa..r.. Campaign-candidates Candidates woo people at market places JP/3/BOX
The five presidential candidates kicked off their first day of campaigning on Tuesday, with activities ranging from visiting traditional markets and family graves to holding closed-door meetings with business people.
Megawati Soekarnoputri of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) visited Jakarta's Tarakan Hospital, the Jatinegara public market in East Jakarta, the Senen Market, and the Glodok business center.
"I visited those places to show the public the (economic and political) situation (in Indonesia) is secure and I appreciate the people's enthusiastic response to my campaign," Megawati said.
Getting down with grass roots constituents was also a priority for Amien Rais of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and his running mate, Siswono Yudohusodo, who visited the Cipinang rice market in East Jakarta, where they talked to traders before eating lunch with them at the market.
Meanwhile, Golkar Party candidate Gen. (ret) Wiranto chose a more personal beginning, visiting the graves of his parents in Surakarta, Central Java, before holding a closed-door meeting with business people in Jakarta.
Meanwhile, Democratic Party candidate Gen. (ret) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono along with his deputy, Jusuf Kalla, focussed on campaign spin, opening the party's media center, before holding a meeting with United States Ambassador to Indonesia Ralf L. Boyce in the afternoon.
Nuts and bolts, however, were more important to Hamzah Haz and Agum Gumelar of the United Development Party (PPP), who held a press conference at the party's headquarters in Central Jakarta to outline their policies. --JP