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