Megawati asks supporters to make elections a success

Megawati asks supporters to make elections a success

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri appealed to party
supporters to vote in the June 7 general election.

Speaking at a party function in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, on
Sunday, Megawati told thousands of supporters crowding a field
belonging to local company PT Sumber Mas that a high turnout at
polling booths would make the election a success.

"The general election is the most strategic (stage) for the
Indonesian people," she said. "Therefore Indonesians, East
Kalimantan people in particular, must exercise their right to
vote according to their conscience."

She warned her supporters of people trying to discourage them
from taking part in the polls.

"The 1999 general election is an effort aimed at realizing the
true democracy based on the Pancasila state ideology and electing
a government which receives popular support," Megawati said.

Megawati said that unlike the elections during the New Order
era, people now would no longer face threats and oppression to
vote for a certain party.

Many of the crowd arrived at the function five hours before
Megawati came, shrugging off the heat. They cheered for the party
chairwoman as she came up to the podium.

The party has come under fire following an incident in
Purbalingga, Central Java, in which a group of people bearing its
attributes fought and harassed supporters of Golkar who were on
their way to a party function earlier this month.

Police are now detaining three people for the incident. The
suspects admitted to being PDI Perjuangan supporters. Police say
no charges can be leveled against them without the victims'
complaint. The three were identified as Imam Khoeruddin, Minarno
and Sukardjo.

"Nobody has so far complained about harassment allegedly
committed by the PDI Perjuangan supporters, and without the
victims' report we cannot prosecute the detainees," said Lt. Col.
Agus Yudharto, deputy chief of Banyumas Police overseeing
Purbalingga.

Central Java Police chief Maj. Gen. Nurfaizi said earlier that
the women took off their Golkar shirts in a resident's home and
asked for a change of clothes.

Sukardjo said he and his friends spontaneously attacked the
Golkar supporters due to anger sparked by the ruling party's
insistence on holding a gathering in the town on Good Friday,
which is a national holiday. Local chapters of parties contesting
the election reportedly agreed not to conduct any early
electioneering due to security concerns.

The campaign period will begin on May 19.

Golkar's other functions in Central Java have all been
suspended following the Purbalingga case and further incidents
across the country targeting the party, according to Golkar's
provincial chief Mochammad Hasbi on Sunday.

Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung was scheduled to attend a party
gathering in Surakarta on Sunday. A youth organization in the
town planned to deploy 300 people to safeguard the event.

"We delayed all functions not only because of the current
situation, but because of the party chairman's packed agenda,"
Hasbi said.

Fresh violence blamed on PDI Perjuangan supporters targeted
the Golkar office in Pemalang, also in Central Java, on Friday.

Nurfaizi said on Saturday that police were investigating the
assault, and arrested three suspects. Other suspects are still at
large.

Dozens of youths attacked the Golkar office and damaged its
windows. The local chief of Golkar, Heru Maryono, said the youths
showed their Golkar rivals PDI Perjuangan membership cards.

But the local chief of PDI Perjuangan denied the allegations
that a group of his party's followers were involved in the
incident.

In Jakarta, top executives of the Democratic People's Party
(PRD), Budiman Sudjatmiko, Ignatius Pranowo, Petrus Haryanto,
Jakobus Eko Kurniawan and Suroso, vomited blood after the sixth
day of their hunger strike at Cipinang prison in East Jakarta.

Their lawyer, Jhonson Panjaitan, demanded the five activists
be taken to the hospital. A team of doctors diagnosed them with
wounded bowels.

The PRD activists are on strike to encourage public awareness
of a just and fair election.

Meanwhile, an election committee worker said former president
Soeharto and his family registered for the June polls on Friday
near Soeharto's residence in Menteng, Central Jakarta.

Soeharto registered for the election shortly after Friday
prayers, accompanied by daughter Siti Hutami Endang Adiningsih.
His son Sigit Harjojodanto, daughter-in-law Ilsje Ratnawati,
grandsons Ari Haryo Wibowo and Haryo Tetuko Setowijoyo and
granddaughter Retnosari Widowati followed later in the day.
(45/amd)