Golkar prods civil servants

Golkar prods civil servants

SEMARANG: The head of the Central Java election committee
Gunanto Suryono charged the Tegal branch of the Golkar Party of
urging civil servants to vote for Golkar.

Gunanto said Golkar's Tegal branch had issued an instruction
to that effect and distributed it to civil servants. "The
instruction was dated May 22," Gunanto said.

Golkar used to rely on millions of votes from civil servants
and their family members, which no longer is the case since the
government issued a rule on civil servant neutrality.

Gunanto also quoted the Independent Election Monitoring
Committee (KIPP) as saying that in Boyolali regency, the
veteran's association (LVRI) had issued a letter to members and
their family to vote for Golkar.

Meanwhile circulars were found urging people to be beware of a
maneuver by the "Jew quartet," referring to the National
Awakening Party (PKB), Christians and the Indonesian Democratic
Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan). Central Java Police Chief
Maj.Gen. Nurfaizi said the circulars were found in Pekalongan and
other areas. Other circulars urged people to vote for Muslim
parties like the Crescent Star Party (PBB) and the United
Development Party (PPP). Others urged against voting. All
circulars were found in Tegal, Banyumas, Karanganyar and
Salatiga.

Meanwhile, in the morning, police arrested a 68-year-old
Golkar legislative candidate in Wonogiri for distributing Rp
50,000 each to coax people to vote for the party.

Polling was smooth in general with police deployed in areas
which were considered prone to violence, such as Klaten,
Pekalongan and Jepara following several clashes during campaigns.
(har)