Mega's supporters defy law, run wild in streets

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.