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)