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)