Election tactics upset PPP

Election tactics upset PPP

SURABAYA (JP): The United Development Party (PPP) accused the
local administration yesterday of unfairly sidelining it in favor
of its rival, the ruling Golkar group.

PPP chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum branded the practice as
violating "the morals and principles of fair and just politics"
routinely trumpeted by the government.

Ismail made the remarks at a celebration of the Moslem-
oriented party's 24th anniversary, attended by about 30,000
people at the 10 November sports stadium here.

A motorcade of an estimated 4,000 vehicles deafened the city,
Indonesia's second largest, as party activists screamed party
slogans and pointed their forefingers into the air, the symbol of
the PPP.

Also present were prominent Moslem preachers from East Java
well-known for their ardent support of the PPP, such as Sofyah of
Situbondo, Alawy Mohamad of Madura, and Nadhir Mohamad of
Jember.

Ismail, or Buya as he is better known, pointed to recent
incidents in several villages of the Pasuruan regency in East
Java, where local government officials banned PPP calendars.

"They replaced them with almanacs displaying photographs of
the regent, district military chief, and chief of the Pasuruan
Golkar chapter," he said.

Ismail said the PPP had officially filed a complaint with
Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung, who said he would look
into the matter.

Another unfair practice, he said, is the ongoing removal of
PPP banners from locations around East Java.

In the May 29 election, the PPP will vie for 425 seats in the
500-member House of Representatives against Golkar and the
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI). The remaining 75 seats are
reserved for the Armed Forces.

Ismail told the press that some of the party's provisional
legislative candidates in the Bojonegoro regency of East Java had
been crossed off the list by government officials.

Also in Bojonegoro, he said, the authorities have been
questioning two government officials for allegedly using the
party's stamp and letterhead.

Statement

Ismail said he welcomed President Soeharto's recent statement
that civil servants had no political obligations and were not
expected to help Golkar or any other contestant.

According to Buya, the president's statement should be
understood as a recognition that civil servants are only
responsible for administrative, not political, matters.

"It means it is wrong for civil servants to stare at people or
intimidate them into voting for a certain contestant. Nor should
there be any obligation for them to recruit at least 10 people to
vote for Golkar," he said, referring to an alleged government
tactic.

Ismail warned that winning an election through intimidation
was tantamount to setting off a time bomb.

He also called on party members to reject any attempts or
offers by political adventurers to join their cause as they would
only be victimized.

"The victims are always the common people while the real
culprits are always safe and untouchable," Buya said.

On the same occasion, in his letter to the PPP read out in the
ceremony, famous poet and a supporter of the party, Emha Ainun
Najib, called on PPP supporters to fight against social
injustices and authoritarianism.

Emha told the PPP to strengthen its commitment to defending
the common people. (nur/aan)

Editorial -- Page 4