Many parties breaking law on elections

JAKARTA (JP): Almost all parties have breached the law on elections and the General Elections Commission's decree on campaigning, a poll monitor said.

The secretary-general of the Independent Elections Monitoring Committee, Mulyana W. Kusumah, said on Sunday the violations involved the contents of campaigns and street rallies.

"Some party leaders have clearly mocked other leaders during their campaigns. Traffic rules are not working at all. All parades involve sitting on the top of vehicles and not wearing helmets," Mulyana, also deputy chairman of the official Elections Supervisory Committee, said.

Such traffic violations led to the death of a supporter of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Irham Isnandar, 24, in North Jakarta on Sunday. At least seven were injured in clashes elsewhere.

The law on elections bans parties from disparaging other parties and the commission's decree prohibits street rallies. As in the 1997 polls, supporters claim they are only traveling to and from campaign venues. Commission members have said taking action those participation in street rallies would be difficult because it could trigger a conflict.

Unexpectedly peace came to Tual, Maluku on Sunday where hundreds have been killed. Sings of peace in the first five days of campaigning in the country, noted scholar Nurcholish Madjid said Sunday, "indicate that the poll will proceed peacefully" as people were weary of violence.

Mulyana suggested that small parties would be better off holding a joint-dialog campaign. Lesser-known parties have failed to hold campaign rallies, citing among others a lack of supporters.

Mulyana also said security forces should be alert on Monday when Golkar Party campaigns in the city.

Golkar supporters were the target of hostility during campaigns in a number of cities on Thursday.

"Golkar is a potential victim here ... Golkar has the same right to campaign as other parties," Mulyana said.

Jakarta Police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman said Sunday Golkar would not receive special treatment from police in its campaigns.

He said the supervisory committee had difficulty monitoring poll frauds. "There is a big communication gap between the central and local elections monitoring committees. We have trouble reaching them and the local committees rarely give us complete reports."

The Elections Supervisory Committee is scheduled to meet on Monday to discuss reports of election rigging across the country.

In Jakarta, security volunteers from various political parties were seen working together to guard the campaign of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle.

In Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, at least one man was injured and a public transportation vehicle was damaged in a clash between supporters of the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the United Development Party (PPP) on Sunday. PKB supporter Ridwan, 16, was taken to the hospital with a stab wound.

Witnesses said the clash began in the PPP stronghold of Bungajeya after PKB supporters were seen removing the flags of other political parties from the area.

Police rushed to the scene and were able to prevent the clash from spreading.

Also in Ujungpandang, Golkar and PPP supporters came to the verge of blows after Golkar supporters were seen tearing down PPP flags, but security forces managed to prevent violence.

Meanwhile, in the West Java capital of Bandung, the presence of PDI Perjuangan chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri on Sunday attracted tens of thousands of people and disrupted traffic in the city. PDI Perjuangan's campaign rally was held in the south of the city, in Soreang, and party supporters began arriving at dawn. Supporters paraded later through the city.

In Yoyyakarta, some 15,000 PDI Perjuangan supporters took to the streets to mark the party's first campaign in the area.

Local party chief Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno called on other proreform parties to join the alliance between PDI Perjuangan, the National Mandate Party (PAN) and PKB to defeat the pro-status quo forces.

In Denpasar, Bali, roads were also crowded with PDI Perjuangan supporters.

In Central Java, PAN chairman Amien Rais flew by helicopter through Wonogiri, Sukoharjo, Kendal, Delanggu and Surakarta in a whirlwind tour.

In Semarang, only dozens of people attended Golkar's indoor campaign on Sunday. Few wore the party's yellow T-shirts and some were seen removing them after the rally.

Local Golkar officials have reportedly told supporters to wear the T-shirts at campaign venues only to avoid possible attacks.

Golkar has been besieged for its alleged corruption and abuse of power during the 32-year rule of former president Soeharto.

In Surakarta's Sriwedari stadium, Amien said Golkar might win only 7 percent to 8 percent of the vote because of the joint communiques PAN signed with the other parties. He was also challenged to settle the case of the Kedungombo Dam, the construction of which displaced thousands of families.

Sunday also saw Golkar defending itself against various accusations. Antara quoted provincial Golkar chairman as saying in Palu, Central Sulawesi, that hostility against Golkar involved "those who were raised and benefited from Golkar-provided facilities".

In Jakarta, an official at the State Ministry for the Empowerment of State Enterprises, Sofyan Djalil, was quoted by the news agency as denying that the ministry had given soft loans to Golkar. According to earlier reports, recipients of soft loans in a number of areas were told the loans were from Golkar. (23/27/43/44/har/byg/edt)