Mega's supporters defy law, run wild in streets
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Bandung/Mataram
Thousands of supporters of President Megawati Soekarnoputri hit the streets of the capital on Thursday, ignoring strict rulings issued by the General Elections Commission (KPU) that ban outdoor campaigning.
Members of the Betawi Rempug Forum and 17 other ethnic groups flocked to the National Monument (Monas) square Thursday morning, where they expressed their support for the President in her bid to secure a full five-year term in the Sept. 20 election.
Hundreds of them, however, then marched from the Hotel Indonesia roundabout, causing heavy traffic congestion Jl. M.H. Thamrin.
A group of artists performed a traditional Reog dance around the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, carrying banners bearing the images of Megawati and her running mate Hasyim Muzadi.
Megawati and Hasyim met their supporters at Monas square.
Looking relaxed, Megawati expressed her gratitude to the support given by the groups.
"I hope the election will proceed peacefully, even after the tragic bombing last week. I thank you because Jakartans remain calm and united after the bombing," she said, referring to the blast in Kuningan, South Jakarta, on Sept. 9, which killed at least ten people and injured over one hundred others.
Megawati further expressed the hope that the next president, who will be sworn in on Oct. 20, would be able to satisfy the people's expectations.
Megawati will face off against Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, a retired four-star Army general, in the Sept. 20 election.
Earlier in the day, Megawati also received support from the Association of Indonesian Workers and the Karang Taruna youth movement.
The KPU has only allocated three days for campaigning before the second round of the election. During the campaign period, which ended on Thursday, the candidates were allowed to hold indoor rallies. The KPU also organized what it termed "televised dialogs" featuring the candidates.
However, Megawati's camp appears to have bent the rules on the last day of the campaign by lending its support to the ceremony at Monas square.
The organizers said that it was not a campaign event as none of Megawati's campaign team members had been involved in organizing or financing it.
Later on Thursday, after participating in the presidential dialog, Megawati also attended a midnight prayer for the victims of the Kuningan bombing at the blast site on Jl. Rasuna Said.
In Bandung, Megawati's camp also appeared to be involved in unlawful campaigning by organizing a mass wedding ceremony for 41 couples -- most of whom were scavengers, poor laborers and homeless people.
Her campaign managers also paid for a one-night stay at the five-star Horison Hotel in the capital of West Java province for the couples.
All of the participants in the ceremony wore T-shirts bearing the images of Megawati and Hasyim.
Meanwhile in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung expressed confidence that the Nationhood Coalition would ensure a Megawati victory.
The Nationhood Coalition consists of Golkar, Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), the Muslim-based United Development Party (PPP) and the Prosperous Peace Party (PDS).
Akbar, who has been appointed the coordinator of the coalition, has been touring the country to drum up support the Megawati-Hasyim ticket and convince Golkar supporters to vote for it.