Hundreds of people leave PDI campaign

Hundreds of people leave PDI campaign

UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): An indoor election campaign
organized by the government-recognized Indonesian Democratic
Party (PDI) faction was abandoned by hundreds of the party's
supporters here yesterday.

The PDI cadres opted out of the gathering, saying they were
bored with the discussion and preferred street rallies instead.

A score of journalists and the PDI's local functionaries
remained in their seats until the party's deputy chairman Budi
Hardjono completed the two-hour dialog.

Local PDI campaigners, Octavianus Polnaya and Achmad Sangaji,
accompanied Budi in the party's second rally. Other PDI rallies
in the province took place in Pinrang, Bone and Polmas.

Budi, who is running for his third five-year term at the House
of Representatives, was not disappointed.

"It's a very common thing, mainly because we are not used to
campaigning (in the form of dialog). I saw the same thing happen
when I was in East Java recently," Budi said.

He said he did not expect to see a huge turnout on his trip.
"For me what's important is a quality campaign," he said.

Tens of buses, vans and motorcycles carrying young PDI
supporters broke the silence with noisy street rallies across the
city while police stood by.

PDI cadres complained about the absence of a clear campaign
schedule. Deputy chairman of the PDI's South Sulawesi branch
Erens Pinontoan said his office avoided announcing the itinerary
for safety reasons.

"We are afraid of (possible clashes) between (different groups
of) PDI supporters," Erens said, referring to the conflict
pitting the government-sanctioned PDI against the Megawati
Soekarnoputri-led camp.

Meanwhile, the military here is investigating the circulation
of leaflets persuading people not to vote for either PDI or the
United Development Party (PPP).

Spokesman of the Wirabuana regional military command Lt. Col.
Mokhtar Darise said rifts within each of the political
organizations had prompted some people to distribute the
leaflets.

In Jakarta, the PDI's first campaign dialog was broadcasted by
state-owned television station TVRI last night. The dialog
presented the chairwoman of the PDI faction at the House of
Representatives, Farimah Achmad, with an audience of mostly
women.

In Surabaya, the party's mayoralty branch announced yesterday
an end to PDI rallies today following Tuesday's clashes pitting
its cadres against Megawati supporters, despite the government's
security guarantee.

Dimmy Haryanto, chairman of the PDI's East Java branch, said
yesterday that the party would instead distribute pamphlets and
hoist flags.

"We need time to heal the trauma, build up a new spirit and
consolidate ourselves," Dimmy was quoted by Antara as saying,
adding that rallies in other East Java towns would go ahead as
planned.

Surabaya will host PDI rallies in five different locations
Sunday. (30/37/amd)