Parties gets Rp 50 million from city administration

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso handed over special fund packages worth Rp 50 million each to all 48 political parties for their Jakarta chapters on Friday.

The Rp 2.4 billion fund came from the new 1999/2000 city budget and is intended to help finance the parties' political activities ahead of the June general election.

The fund packages, in the form of bank checks, were received by chairmen of the parties in a ceremony at City Hall.

After receiving the checks, the party chairmen -- standing in a three-layer formation at a podium -- jointly read a declaration in which they vowed to abide by the election rules, to respect each others' parties and make the elections a success.

The reading was led by the chairman of the Islamic People's Party's Jakarta chapter, Tony Brawijaya.

In his speech, Sutiyoso said he realized that the amount of money was far from enough for the parties' activities.

"It's just a small amount. But please don't see it only from the amount as it's mainly to show our concern," he said.

The governor said he hoped the fund would at least help ease the parties' financial burdens during poll preparations.

"I also hope the parties will work on maintaining peace in the capital during campaigns and the election period while keeping the competitive spirit alive," Sutiyoso said.

He also repeatedly urged the political parties to avoid unfavorable campaign activities, such as the improper installment of flags and banners, which would only damage the city's beauty.

The city administration also gave similar fund packages during the 1997 elections to the only three political parties permitted to contest the polls: United Development Party (PPP), Golkar and Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).

According to Djafar Badjeber, head of PPP's Jakarta chapter, his party received Rp 1.5 billion from the city administration alone in the 1997 polls.

When asked to comment on the Rp 50 million packages, many of the party chairmen acknowledged that the amount was far from enough but they praised the city administration's contribution during such a time of hardship.

Some of them said the handing over of the fund put Sutiyoso's administration one step ahead of the General Elections Commission (KPU).

KPU chairman Rudini promised on Tuesday to give Rp 150 million -- the equivalent of that received by each of the three parties in the 1997 elections from the central government -- to each of the 48 parties sometime this week.

According to the parties representatives, the KPU has yet to make good on its promise.

The head of the Indonesian Unity in Diversity Party's Jakarta chapter, Daniel Abbas, said he considered the donation from the city a sign of the administration's empathy toward the parties.

"I think the amount will be enough only for purchasing 10,000 T-shirts for the campaigns," he said.

Representative of the Democrats National Party (PND) Rifki Tadjudan said that much more money was needed for food and transport allowances for his party's supporters.

The ruling Golkar Party's Jakarta chapter chairman Tadjus Sobirin said his party "will donate all the Rp 50 million," fund. But he refused to say to whom the money would be donated.

Head of the Deliberation, Work and Cooperation Party (MKGR) Jakarta's chapter Effendy Maulana estimated that funds needed to finance the activities of each of the parties' Jakarta chapters would be at least Rp 2.5 billion.

Similar comments were uttered by representatives of the Indonesian People's Party, the Masyumi Islamic Political Party, the United Development Party and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle.

Almost all of the parties once again agreed that dialog, instead of street rallies, would be the most effective way to reach the goals of this year's elections.

"Such a campaign will also educate people and limit the possibility of insulting other parties," said Subagyo, head of the Justice and Unity Party's Jakarta chapter.

Meanwhile, Tadjus of Golkar said many parties had been unfair to his party as some had insulted the party on many recent occasions.

"We are indeed bad, but please don't besmirch us," he said. (ind/ylt)