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.