Minority parties threaten to boycott election campaign

JAKARTA (JP): With the electoral campaign only two days away, the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) threatened yesterday to boycott it if the party encountered too many hurdles.

Government-recognized PDI chairman Soerjadi told a press conference that the party had a barrage of objections to irregularities in the run-up to the May 29 election.

"In principal, we will not do that (boycott), but if we feel we cannot campaign in our way, we'll opt out.

"Those who are authorized to ensure the election campaigns run smoothly should carry out their duties properly, rather than abusing their power," Soerjadi said.

Soerjadi was referring to central and local-government officials who he said favored Golkar, the political grouping.

Golkar, the PDI and the United Development Party (PPP) will compete for 425 seats in the House of Representatives on polling day, which is preceded by a one-week cooling-off period after 27 days of party campaigns. The campaigns start Sunday.

On Tuesday, PPP secretary-general Tosari Wijaya told The Jakarta Post the party would throw in the towel if it came up against too much unfairness.

"Several branches in Java have made disheartening reports which have probably driven us to this decision. This isn't saying we'll call a boycott.

"If we are mistreated and many people fall victim, we will call it a day. Let them (Golkar) run alone and win the race unchallenged," Tosari said.

He said that continuing scuffles involving PPP supporters and their Golkar rivals in Central Java was a good reason to pull out.

A series of clashes broke out in the Central Java towns of Pekalongan, Rembang, Temanggung, Wonosobo and Magelang following the PPP's 24th anniversary celebrations in the towns. The party's anniversary was in January.

PPP supporters in Yogyakarta hoisted black flags and raised the party's flags at half mast during the 1992 election campaign in protest of unfair treatment by local authorities.

Cheating

Soerjadi lodged a fresh complaint yesterday over Golkar allegedly jumping the gun with its campaigning and called on the government to take strict punitive measures.

He said he saw Golkar supporters placing yellow banners carrying the party's symbol, the banyan tree, and inscribed with its campaign themes across the Central Java city of Cilacap during a recent trip.

"They (Golkar) have always made a foul start, but to our surprise no action has ever been taken against them.

"We are always urged to comply with the regulations agreed by all three political organizations. But when it comes to this kind of irritating violations, there has never been any solution," Soerjadi said.

Both the PDI and the PPP have complained to the government about alleged irregularities of previous election years.

Golkar has won each of the previous five elections and looks set to romp home with another unanimous victory this year. It has set its sights on obtaining 70 percent of the vote.

More than 124 million Indonesians are eligible to vote.

Soerjadi reiterated that his party would not rely too much on the campaign period as a means to garner votes, saying the campaign rules were too restrictive for the party.

The party has not set a target for its share of the vote, but Soerjadi expressed guarded optimism that his party would enjoy an increase this year.

PDI, which normally comes in last, gained 14 percent of the vote for 56 House seats in the last election five years ago. (amd)