City turns green on second campaign day

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)