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)