Padang bulls knocked down

Padang bulls knocked down

PADANG, West Sumatra: The local Indonesian Democratic Party
(PDI), which has the symbol of a bull, has admitted to having
lost aggressiveness due to financial limitations.

During the 1992 election, the minority party stood out for its
huge campaign turnouts. This season, however, it has been
conspicuous for its small, low-spirited rallies.

The West Sumatra PDI branch chief, Taharuddin Tha'at, admitted
yesterday that the party could do nothing to boost its activists'
spirits.

"The bulls are now too exhausted to rage as they should
naturally do. They have been knocked down flat on the canvas," he
said.

PDI, which has been torn apart by a drawn out leadership
conflict, has gone broke in West Sumatra after holding 12
rallies, he said.

In comparison, rivals Golkar had held 112 rallies and United
Development Party 38 during the same period. (pan)