Outdoor campaign to make headache for Jakartans
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
For seven days starting from Friday, Jakartans have to prepare themselves for noisy campaigning in the streets -- and more severe traffic jams -- because supporters from all 24 political parties will be out and about in droves trying to woo voters with their ability to stop traffic.
The outdoor campaigns typically are a also a time when the parties vie head-to-head for bragging rights about who can organize the largest gang. Forget the party programs from here on in. Most people involved are just looking for something fun to do, not to listen to the litany of old promises.
But the police have told the people not to worry about security issues, because they plan to deploy a massive number of personnel to safeguard the city. The police will also call on extra personnel to secure the capital for the week, citing possible clashes among rival gangs of party zealots.
Since the start of the 14-day indoor campaign period on March 11, the campaigns have proceeded quite peacefully, and most motorists and others have showed patience with the occasional group of flag-waving teens.
On Friday, the Marhaenisme Indonesian National Party (PNI Marhaenisme), Socialists' Democratic Labor Party (PBSD), the Islamic Crescent Star Party (PBB) and the Freedom Party (Partai Merdeka) will hold outdoor campaigns in various places in Jakarta.
Bung Karno stadium, in Central Jakarta, is slated to be the center of activity all week, with major parties taking turns each day for campaigning.
PDI-P plans to entertain some 250,000 supporters on Sunday with rock bands Dewa and Jamrud, as well as a speech from Megawati Soekarnoputri.
The National Mandate Party (PAN) leader Amien Rais and the party's executive members are expected to get involved in the party's final campaign at the Bung Karno stadium on March 29.
The party hopes for at least 140,000 supporters to show up and urge Amien and PAN legislators on.
Another party with huge crowds expected, is the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), with estimates of up to 100,000 supporters at Gelora Bung Karno stadium.
Prominent figures such as the chairman of the largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama Hasyim Muzadi, chairman of the second-largest Muslim organization Muhammadiyah Moh. Syafi'i Ma'arif, comedian Mi'ing and the self-styled king of dangdut music Rhoma Irama, are scheduled to attend the meeting.
With possible apprehension about their supporters being assaulted if they parade openly, Golkar will concentrate its supporters in soccer stadiums in five areas of Jakarta on March 31, expecting all six of its presidential candidates to be in the city during the final round of campaigning.
However, some parties are taking different approaches, the New Indonesia Alliance Party (PPIB), after receiving fairly modest turnouts from Jakarta supporters in its first two rounds of campaigning, is set to hold its final campaign in the capital on March 27 at Lapangan Banteng in Central Jakarta.
The Concern for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB) is only expecting about 5,000 people at Menteng stadium in Central Jakarta, with former president Soeharto's eldest daughter Siti "Tutut" Hardijanti Rukmana slated to address the crowd on March 29.