Friday too hot to enjoy 'dangdut' at party rally

Friday too hot to enjoy 'dangdut' at party rally

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The first day of outdoor campaigning in Jakarta went relatively
peacefully without a significant increase in the usual congestion
-- though it was not clear whether residents were intentionally
avoiding the political parties' activities.

There were gatherings of supporters, only a few hundred each
in the case of small new parties. Many of them opted to sit in
the shade despite attractive dangdut performances.

"It's hot!" cried one participant to the master of ceremony's
invitation to dance at a gathering held by the Marhaenisme
Indonesian National Party (PNI Marhaenisme).

Police officers took it easy and killed time playing games on
their cell phones.

Prominent speakers were party leader Sukmawati Soekarnoputri, one
of three daughters of founding president Sukarno who now lead
political parties, and Siswono Yudohusodo, a former minister in a
number of past cabinets. However the event at the Soemantri
Brodjonegoro hockey field in South Jakarta saw only half of the
field filled by crowds, mostly in black T-shirts.

However, the heat did not seem to bother thousands of
supporters of the Crescent Star Party (PBB) in Rawamangun, East
Jakarta, some of who turned out in the fashion of past campaigns
-- shaving their hair in the shape of the party logo, in this
case, the star.

To entertain the crowd the PBB went all out with performances
of the Chinese lion, the barongsai, giant dolls associated with
native Jakarta (Betawi) culture, the ondel-ondel and the qasidah
musical performance with Arabic influenced tunes. The
performances seemed to highlight the PBB's message of being
oriented to Islam yet being open to all cultures in the country.

The PBB campaign lasted until 5 p.m., an hour later than
schedule, and drew a warning from the Election Supervisory
Committee. But organizers said they were accommodating the party
leader, Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yusril Ihza
Mahendra, on the grounds he had been held back by state duties.
Compared to other parties campaigning on Friday the party seemed
the most popular, judging by their supporters' turnout.

PBB ranked sixth in the 1999 election with some 2 million
votes, is campaigning for "Islamic values." It now faces major
competition from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).

Also in East Jakarta, leader of the Freedom Party (Partai
Merdeka) Adi Sasono was on the hustings, repeating his appeals
his party's candidates would be held accountable should they be
elected. "Don't forget to inform me if members of the Freedom
Party leave you," he told a paltry audience.

From a chair on the stage at the horse racing stadium in
Pulomas he talked about the "people's economy", before leaving in
a Mercedes-Benz.

In Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, thousands filled the Lakidende
stadium to hear Golkar leader Akbar Tandjung and watch performers
from Jakarta. The police dedicated almost 300 personnel to secure
Akbar and his entourage including the mobile brigade, riot police
and even the local bomb squad unit.

Police believed a minor bomb explosion in Jakarta on Sunday
had nothing to do with the elections and the security measures
were just to be on the safe side, Kendari Police Chief Adj. Sr.
Comr. Joko Mulyono said.