Intimidation reduces crowd at PDI rallies

Intimidation reduces crowd at PDI rallies

UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): The Indonesian Democratic
Party's (PDI) campaign is struggling because of government
intervention and disturbances by supporters of the party's ousted
leader, Megawati Soekarnoputri.

PDI South Sulawesi chapter chairman Andi Hasis told The
Jakarta Post that many party supporters in the villages in Bone
and Takaral regencies had been intimidated by local
administrators -- who were mostly Golkar supporters. The
supporters said they had been threatened for joining PDI rallies.

"Certain people have prevented our supporters in the two
regencies from attending our rallies. Elsewhere, irresponsible
people have painted yellow on some of the (red) placards carrying
our party's symbol," Hasis said.

The PDI leader in Takaral, Muhammad Idris, said several PDI
flags had been removed. "I don't know what the culprits will do
with the flags."

Hasis said intimidation had become a nightmare for the party,
which was trying to consolidate its support in South Sulawesi. He
claimed that Bone and Takaral were the PDI's provincial
strongholds.

The PDI failed to win any of the province's seats for the
House of Representatives in the last two general elections in
1987 and 1992.

Hasis said he would urge the provincial Elections Supervisory
Committee to seek legal sanctions against those removing the
flags.

PDI chairman Soerjadi said he did not believe that Megawati
loyalists had stolen the flags.

"Because Megawati has announced that her faction would not
take part in election campaign, I guess the culprits could not be
PDI supporters," Soerjadi said yesterday during a stopover at the
Hasanuddin airport on his way back to Jakarta from Wamena, Irian
Jaya.

Soerjadi took over the party's chair from Megawati last June
in a government-backed rebel PDI congress in Medan, North
Sumatra.

"Those people who did the wrong thing while disguised as
Megawati loyalists could fool the public," Soerjadi said. "PDI
supporters would never damage their own party."

He said the security forces should have stopped the removal of
flags before the PDI had reported it.

In Pekanbaru, Riau, a PDI rally at the Bukit field proceeded
in heavy rain. PDI Secretary-general Buttu R. Hutapea and other
campaigners got down from the stage and led a dance in the muddy
field to try and stop the hundreds of people in the audience
leaving.

"The rain is an omen which is a blessing from God to the PDI,"
a soaked Buttu later told the rally.

He apologized to the audience that the organizers had not had
enough money to hire singers and musicians.

"Another poll contestant has taken all of the artists," he
said, referring to dominant Golkar which has a nationwide
campaign backed by about 700 musicians, singers and other
artists.

In Dili, East Timor, about 200 people joined a PDI rally in
the Kampung Merdeka soccer field, defying intimidation after 500
PDI signs or flags were destroyed or removed during the party's
first campaign round Tuesday.

Campaigner Kae Tampubolon told the audience the PDI had
pledged to help democracy flourish in Indonesia. "Power holders
in this country have long kept democracy in check," he said.

From Jayapura in Irian Jaya came report that 20 PDI supporters
were injured when a truck they were riding on slipped on a
slippery road, overturned and plunged into a ravine in the Arso
village. (30/33/amd)