JP/3/AIRLINE Parties demand cheap flights

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Several executives at airline companies in North Sumatra province revealed on Sunday that, as the election campaign is underway, demands are on the rise from the political parties for discounted flights.

The party leaders argued for the discounted prices, saying they had to visit their supporters often during the election campaign, said Nasrizal, a general manager for Garuda Indonesia Airways' Medan branch.

He said that Garuda had accepted some proposals from the political parties for the discounted flights.

The general manager of Adam Air, Sunaryanto, said that his company would not give discounted prices unless the party leaders bought tickets in large groups.

Domestic flight seat capacity has increased to 80 percent during the election campaign, which started on Thursday, compared to 70 percent on average before the campaign. -- JP

;JP;ASA; ANPAa..r.. Trail-Manado-election

JP/3/TRAIL Politicians urged to respect church

MANADO, North Sulawesi: The Synod Working Group at Masehi Injili Church in Manado called on political party leaders and party campaigners on Sunday to refrain from delivering political sermons in church.

The call was aimed at preventing the abuse of religion for politics, according to a circular signed by the chairman of the Synod Working Group, Parengkuan.

In the circular, Parengkuan also called on Christians in North Sulawesi to vote in the upcoming elections, saying that casting one's vote was the right of every citizen in Indonesia. -- JP

;JP;ASA; ANPAa..r.. Campaign-accident-Trenggalek

JP/3/TRAIL Accident claims candidate's eye

SURABAYA: Bad luck struck Muhammad Subhan, a legislative candidate with the National Awakening Party (PKB) for the Trenggalek regency council, leaving him with only one eye.

The accident occurred when Muhammad, who was a riding motorcycle on Friday, was on his way to a relative's house in Trenggalek. As he sped along Jl. Soekarno-Hatta in Trenggalek, a bamboo pole with a campaign flag on it, suddenly fell and impaled Muhammad's left eye. He fell from his motorcycle with the bamboo still stuck in his eye.

He was rushed to Soetomo Hospital in Surabaya, and a doctor there stated astutely deduced that the would probably lose the eye. -- JP

;JP;ASA; ANPAa..r.. PDI-KPU-Cirebon ................... JP/3/TRAIL PDI-P rebuked for poll violation

CIREBON, West Java: A member at Cirebon mayoralty's General Election Commission (KPUD) lashed out on Sunday at the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's (PDI-P) Cirebon branch, saying that the party had violated election rules.

"According to the campaign schedule, the party should only campaign in the media on Friday. But, in addition to campaigning in the media, the party also mobilized people for campaigning on the streets," said Darumakka, the chairman of Cirebon KPUD.

Darumakka demanded that the Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) immediately investigate the alleged violation of the election rule. -- JP

;JP;ASA; ANPAa..r.. PDI-election-Semarang ...................... JP/3/TRAIL PDI-P boys brawl after erotic dance

SEMARANG: Gangs of youths supporting the Indonesian Democratic of Struggle (PDI-P) clashed violently with each other during a PDI-P campaign event featuring a sensual dancer in Semarang on Sunday.

At least five people suffered from injuries sustained in the clash, which happened right under the watchful eyes of several PDI-P candidates, who were sitting on stage at the time also enthralled with the provocative dancer's enticing steps.

The candidates were Murdoko, the chairman of the Central Java PDI-P branch and Deddy Soetomo, a PDI-P candidate, more noted for his acting ability rather political/legislative acumen.

The brawl began while the PDI-P crowd sang and danced, along with the dancer on stage. Suddenly, at least two groups of hormonally energized youth began kicking and hitting one another. However, the brawl ended as the security personnel calmed the two groups.

PDI-P campaigners Murdoko, Deddy Soetomo and Gunawan Wirosarojo, a deputy chairwoman of PDI-P, expressed their concern over the incident. "Shame on them. It can tarnish the party's image," explained Gunawan. -- JP