Pancasila Patriots preps for campaign

JAKARTA: The Pancasila Patriots' Party began on Friday a five- day consolidation meeting of its legislative candidates who are eligible to run in the general election on April 5.

The party's secretary-general, Sophar Maru Hutagalung, said participants at the meeting would strategize on how to best promote the party's goals and platforms, most notably its undying allegiance to maintaining the existing map of the Unitary Republic of Indonesia, the Constitution and Pancasila state ideology, during the campaign period.

They will also draft a strategy to win at least 3 percent of the vote to enable the party to nominate a presidential candidate for the direct election in July, Sophar added.

The General Elections Commission has declared 173 legislative candidates from the Pancasila Patriots' Party eligible for the election.

Party chairman and possible presidential candidate Yapto S. Soerjosoemarno and executives Yorris Raweyai and Henry Yosodiningrat are among the participants at the meeting.

The party was established by the Pemuda Pancasila security organization, which used to be closely affiliated with Golkar as that party's security enforcers. --JP