City turns green on second campaign day
JAKARTA (JP): The city was awash in a sea of green on Thursday as supporters of the United Development Party (PPP) dominated the second day of the election campaign.
The supporters of the other eight political parties scheduled to campaign in the city were hardly seen on the streets. A number of the parties canceled planned rallies for various reasons.
Street rallies caused traffic jams along Jl. Mampang Prapatan, Jl. Pancoran and Jl. Raya Pasar Minggu in South Jakarta, as well as along streets in Tanah Abang, Central Jakarta. PPP supporters paraded in convoys of buses, cars, trucks and motorcycles.
Party supporters of all ages rallied in the streets rather than taking part in gatherings at campaign venues. A PPP rally at Lapangan Merah soccer field in the Pejompongan area of Tanah Abang was attended by some 5,000 people.
Speakers at the rally devoted most of their time criticizing the New Order regime and the ruling Golkar Party, which they accused of causing the economic crisis in the country.
"We have been ruled by an authoritarian regime for more than 30 years so don't give Golkar another chance to win this year's polls," the chairman of PPP's Central Jakarta chapter, Rahman, said.
Meanwhile, at least 2,000 people attended a PPP rally at Pancoran Barat soccer field in South Jakarta. The rally featured ulema and the party's Jakarta executives.
The party's city treasurer, Rusli H.R., promised supporters that a Betawi (native Jakartan) would be appointed governor of Jakarta if PPP won the elections.
"The Betawi people have suffered. They have been evicted from their ancestral land because there has never been a Betawi governor," Rusli said.
The ulema told the supporters to vote for the Islamic-based party so they could go to heaven.
The supporters were entertained by a drum band from a nearby Islamic school and a performance of Ondel-ondel, a traditional mask dance from Jakarta.
The other parties scheduled to campaign in Jakarta on Thursday were the New Indonesia Party (PIB), the Indonesian Christian National Party (Krisna), the Indonesian National Party led by Supeni (PNI-Supeni), the Indonesian Democrats Alliance Party (PADI), the Indonesian Muslim Awakening Party (Kami), the Islamic Community Party (PUI), the Muslim Community Awakening Party (PKU) and the MKGR Party.
The head of Krisna's Central Jakarta chapter, Martinus Saiya, said the party decided to cancel all of its campaign activities in the city due to a lack of funds.
Two of the parties, PIB and PKU, simply distributed party stickers, matches and cards in the city.
Meanwhile, 300 supporters of the MKGR Party gathered at Belalang soccer field in Pancoran, South Jakarta, to hear speeches from party executives.
One of the executives, Kristia Kartika, who is a candidate for the House of Representatives, told supporters the party would build a new Indonesia and improve the people's welfare.
The majority of the rally was dominated by several dangdut singers who entertained party supporters.
Quiet
In Tangerang city, none of the three political parties scheduled to campaign on Thursday held events. Supporters of the Indonesian People's Party (Pari), the Republican Party and the Indonesian Muslim Party were not seen on the streets.
Nor did the Justice Party, the Indonesian Christian National Party or the Indonesian National Party led by Supeni make appearances elsewhere in Tangerang regency.
Meanwhile, Jakarta Police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman said on Thursday police were still questioning six youths detained on charges of removing the flags of 18 political parties.
Noegroho said the youths, all technical high school students, were caught removing the flags by local residents late on Wednesday night.
He said police also were questioning an executive at a radio paging firm for allegedly transmitting false information.
He said the firm informed its customers that a car belonging to a member of a certain political party was attacked during the joint campaign parade on Wednesday.
The executive has apologized, saying that the news was mistyped, Noegroho said.
Separately, an official from the city's social disturbance control center -- who asked for anonymity -- said staff members from his office saw 10 people wearing PPP attributes in South Jakarta distribute leaflets discrediting the chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, Megawati Soekarnoputri.
The leaflets carried a picture of Megawati praying at a Hindu temple and pictures of well-known Catholic and Protestant figures, with an inscription saying, "These figures are in control of the state" and "Will Muslims continue to be deceived?" (jun/ind/41)