Joint parade to kick-off start of campaigning

Joint parade to kick-off start of campaigning

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso, along with a number of
cabinet ministers, high-ranking officials, foreign diplomats and
political party leaders, will witness on Wednesday the kick-off
ceremony of the joint float parade of 48 parties contesting the
June poll.

The ceremony at the Monas Square in Central Jakarta, which
will mark the first day of the May 19 - June 4 campaigning
period, will also be attended by executives of the General
Election Commission (KPU), National Election Committee (PPI),
Elections Monitoring Committee (Panwaslu) and a wide number of
organizations, including the Jakarta Chapter of Chamber of
Commerce and Industry.

Chairman of the Jakarta Provincial Elections Committee (PPD I)
Djafar Badjeber repeatedly aired his wish that the joint parade,
which runs from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., will end peacefully.

According to the latest announcement from PPD I, the parade
will only involve a small number of people carried in open-backed
vehicles of four tires at least. Vehicles will be decorated with
flowers, red-and-white national flags and attributes, such as
posters, banners and billboards of the respective party's slogans
and symbols.

Each of the 48 parties are allowed to enter only five floats
for the parade, which is aimed to help set up a friendly and
peaceful situation during the campaigning weeks.

Only one driver, a security guard and two people are allowed
in each of the vehicles. The two people will act as models for
the respective party.

The vehicles are expected to arrive at the Square from 8 a.m.
to 11 a.m., with the kick-off ceremony starting at 11:00 a.m.

From Monas Square, the float parade will be divided into five
groups, each with one vehicle from each party.

Each of the groups will be led by a police car and an
ambulance, touring one of the city's five mayoralties until 4:30
p.m.

Each float group will end the journey at the respective
Mayoralty Elections Committee (PPD II) office.

The group heading to Central Jakarta will pass through Jl.
M.H. Thamrin, Jl. Sudirman, Jl. Gatot Subroto, Jl. Rasuna Said,
Jl. Imam Bonjol, Jl. Diponegoro, Jl. Salemba, Jl. Pramuka, Jl. A.
Yani (By Pass), Jl. Suprapto, Jl. Kramat Bunder, Jl. Pasar Senen,
Jl. Gunung Sahari, Jl. KH Samanhudi, Jl. Sukarjo Wiryopranoto,
Jl. Hayam Wuruk, Jl. Gajah Mada, Jl. KH Hasyim Ashari, Jl. Biak,
Jl. Musi, Jl. Tanah Abang 2, Jl. Abdul Muis and finish at the
Central Jakarta PPD II office.

The floats touring the North Jakarta area will go through Jl.
M.H. Thamrin, Jl. Sudirman, with a U-turn at Semanggi cloverleaf
back to Jl. Sudirman, Jl. M.H. Thamrin, Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat,
Jl. Majapahit, Jl. Juanda, Jl. Pos. Jl. Dr. Sutomo, Jl. Gunung
Sahari, Jl. R.E. Martadinata, Jl. Enggano, Jl. Sulawesi, Jl.
Pelabuhan Raya, Jl. Cilincing, Jl. Kramat Jaya, Jl. Pliumang
Semper, Jl. Yos Sudarso, and finish at the North Jakarta PPD II
office.

The parade for East Jakarta will also start by passing through
Jl. M.H. Thamrin, Jl. Sudirman, Jl. Gatot Subroto, Jl. M.T.
Haryono, Jl. Sutoyo, Jl. Bogor Raya, Jl. Gedong, Jl. Condet Raya,
Jl. Dewi Sartika, Jl. Otista and finish at the East Jakarta PPD
II office.

The group touring South Jakarta will go through Jl. M.H..
Thamrin, Jl. Sudirman, Jl. Sisingamangaraja, Jl. Panglima Polim,
Jl. Fatmawati, Jl. TB Simatupang, Jl. Pasar Minggu Raya, Jl. Haji
Samali, Jl. Warung Jati Timur, Jl. Mampang Prapatan, Jl. Kapten
Tendean and finish at the South Jakarta PPD II office.

The remaining West Jakarta float group will travel through Jl.
M.H. Thamrin, Jl. Sudirman, Jl. Gatot Subroto, Jl. Palmerah
Utara, Jl. Palmerah Barat, Jl. Kebayoran Lama, Jl. Pos Pengumben,
Jl. Joglo Raya, Jl. Meruya Udik, Jl. Meruya Ilir, Jl. Perjuangan
(Panjang), Jl. Daan Mogot, Jl. Lingkar Luar Barat, Jl. Kembangan
Raya and finish at the West Jakarta PPD II office.

Punishment for any parties whose fans are found violating set
rules are not known at this time. (bsr)