Outdoor campaign to make headache for Jakartans

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.