Minority parties threaten to boycott election campaign

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)