Many parties breaking law on elections

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)