Jakartans relieved by safe campaign

Jakartans relieved by safe campaign

JAKARTA (JP): Jakartans breathed a sigh of relief on Wednesday
as the first week of campaigning here came to an end with no
signs of the violence and unrest that so many people in the
capital expected.

With last year's May riots fresh in their minds, plus the
spate of unrest which has hit other parts of the country ahead of
the election period, many businesses in the capital erected
towering iron fences around their buildings.

Such fears have proved groundless. A number of businessmen
told The Jakarta Post they were no longer afraid of street
rallies staged by supporters of parties contesting the June 7
polls. Their only headache was the traffic jams which resulted
from convoys of party supporters.

Aming, the owner of Pelangi Audio electronics in Glodok, West
Jakarta, said he reopened his shop on Friday last week, the third
day of the campaign.

"I decided to resume business after I saw how things were
developing," Aming, whose shop was burned down during last year's
riots, said.

He said he still felt anxious when large numbers of party
supporters took to the streets in convoys of cars and
motorcycles.

The Elections Supervisory Committee announced on Tuesday the
campaign was generally secure, despite several skirmishes
involving supporters of rival parties.

Anton, the owner of a furniture shop on Jl. Pramuka in East
Jakarta, said he read the campaign schedule in the newspaper
every day so he would know whether a party with a large number of
supporters would be campaigning in the city.

"I informed all my customers that when a large party was
(campaigning) in town, deliveries would be made early in the day
or after the campaign activities because I don't want to risk
being trapped in traffic," he said.

Apart from delivery problems, however, his business is running
smoothly during the campaign, he said.

Amidah, a food stall owner in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, and
Chandra, the owner of a shop in the Harco Glodok electronic
center in West Jakarta, were of the same opinion.

"I hope that we will always have a secure campaign," Chandra
said.

Calm

The city was relatively calm on Wednesday, although thousands
of supporters of the National Awakening Party (PKB), clad in
their green and white T-shirts, took to the streets in buses,
cars, trucks and motorcycles.

Compared to Sunday, when tens of thousands of Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) supporters flooded
the city in an ocean of red, Wednesday's street rallies were
subdued.

PKB presidential candidate Abdurrahman Wahid, better known as
Gus Dur, and PKB chairman Matori Abdul Djalil addressed thousands
of supporters in West Jakarta and East Jakarta, respectively.

While Abdurrahman reiterated his call for former president
Soeharto to return his family's alleged wealth, Matori said PKB
would form a coalition with parties which opposed B.J. Habibie's
presidential bid.

"Like his mentor Soeharto, Habibie is still practicing
corruption, collusion and nepotism. Habibie should withdraw,"
Matori said.

"The replacement of four deputy attorney generals shows that
Habibie is trying to cover the (Soeharto) case," he said.

Meanwhile, at least 1,000 supporters of the Indonesian Muslim
Party (PUMI) attended an outdoor rally at Pegadungan soccer field
in West Jakarta.

The Indonesian Workers Party (PPI) and the All-Indonesian
Workers Solidarity Party (PSPSI) held campaign rallies at
Cengkareng stadium and Grogol stadium, respectively. Hundreds
attended each of the rallies.

Meanwhile, PKB secretary-general Iskandar Muhaimin said his
party had held further discussions on an agreement on extra votes
with the National Mandate Party (PAN) and PDI Perjuangan.

"We will draw up the details of the agreement in the next few
days. But, of course, it is just the three of us and not PPP (the
United Development Party) or the Justice Party," Iskandar told
The Jakarta Post.

The United Development Party, the Justice Party and the
National Mandate Party signed a joint communique to take a united
stance against pro-status quo forces, following a similar
agreement between PKB, PAN and PDI Perjuangan.

Separately, PAN secretary-general Faisal Basri said an
agreement on extra votes had been reached with PKB and now they
were discussing the matter with PDI Perjuangan.

"We are to share leftover votes in all 27 provinces to enable
one of us to gain extra seats in the House of Representatives,"
Faisal said. (ind/jun/edt)