Megawati T-shirts sell like hot cakes

SEMARANG: Megawati T-shirts calling on people to boycott this month's election are selling like hot cakes here and in Salatiga.

Customers include mothers and children, who can buy the T- shirts for between Rp 5,000 (US$2) and Rp 10,000.

The shirts carry messages written in either Javanese or Indonesian, saying that people would rather stay away from the May 29 poll if the government insists on barring Megawati from running.

Megawati, ousted in a government-sanctioned rebel congress last year and replaced by Soerjadi, has decided not to campaign but not encouraged her loyalists to boycott the election.

In Indonesia, persuading people to boycott an election is illegal. Controversial politician Sri Bintang Pamungkas has been detained by the Attorney General's Office for sending Idul Fitri cards containing the same message. (har/pan)