Many Jakartans net extra income from campaign

By Ida Indawati Khouw and Ahmad Junaidi

JAKARTA (JP): Campaigning activities have become an income source for some Jakartans, as scores of political parties provide payment for those willing to join rallies or party gatherings.

Several campaign supporters told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday and Thursday they were willing to participate in campaigns in exchange for money.

A housewife, Juni -- not her real name -- who joined the Republican Party gathering at Borobudur square in Central Jakarta on Thursday, admitted joining the party's rally after being promised payment of Rp 10,000, a new T-shirt and a bottle of mineral water.

"I think most of (the campaign supporters) are willing to join party gatherings because of money," said Juni who lives in a slum area near the Proklamasi monument in Central Jakarta.

Several of her neighbors also received the same offer from party activists.

However, even though she was recruited by the Republican Party, Juni said she had not made up her mind which party to vote for.

"I was told to bring my children to the campaign site to bolster the gathering," the mother of two said.

Almost all parties have involved children in rallies.

At several party gatherings, crowds were visibly more interested in watching dangdut performers, rather than listening to campaigners.

"The most important thing for me is the free entertainment and getting additional income," a 19-year-old supporter said at the Republican Party campaign. The youth added that he would vote for the National Mandate Party (PAN).

Separately, a member of the Justice and Unity Party's (PKP) security force said each motorcycle owner who participated in a PKP rally received Rp 10,000.

"I was instructed to amass 30 motorcycles for the rally," he said during Wednesday party's gathering in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

The former construction worker said he had been promised Rp 300,000 if he served as a member of the security force during the campaign and election period. "The pay is far better than construction worker wages, which are only about Rp 150,000 a month."

Rasnan, not his real name, also said a PKP cadre told security force members they would become white collar employees if the party won the elections, "but there was no further explanation".

Meanwhile, Thursday campaigning again caused traffic congestion across the city, especially in Central Jakarta.

Jl. Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman have become the most popular campaign routes, apart from the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle.

The traffic circle was packed on Thursday by supporters of the National Mandate Party (PAN), the Crescent and Star Party (PBB), the Justice Party (PK), the Republican Party, the Nahdlatul Ummat Party, PNI-Front Marhaenis and the Independence Vanguards Party (IPKI).

Employees working in skyscrapers along the major thoroughfares warmly greeted the rallies.

Thousands of PAN supporters dominated proceedings in their party's blue-and-white colors. Many supporters parked their cars and motorcycles around the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, causing heavy congestion in the area until late afternoon.

A PAN executive said many rallies in the five mayoralties were canceled or had a reduced duration time, as supporters preferred street rallies where they could meet old and new friends from other areas.

PAN Secretary General Faisal Basri was among the few who kept to their schedules, campaigning in Cilincing, North Jakarta.

Thousands of PK and PBB supporters also thronged the streets in their respective colors of black-and-yellow, and green.

On Thursday, PK's presidential candidate Didin Hafidhuddin and party president Nur Mahmudi Ismail campaigned in Bintaro, South Jakarta, and in Pluit, North Jakarta.

Meanwhile, Jakarta Military Commander Maj. Gen. Djadja Suparman said on Thursday military and police officers were ready to secure the campaign of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) on Friday.

"I have heard that certain groups will use PDI Perjuangan's (campaign day) to create disturbances," Djadja said after inspecting troops deployed at the Senayan Sports Complex.

But he called for calm, saying the rumors might prove unfounded.

City police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman met PDI Perjuangan's city chapter head Roy B.B. Janis on Wednesday night to discuss the matter.

Roy said the party would provide 15,000 security forces to secure Friday's campaign.