Parties hold peaceful convoy

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: Supporters of 14 out of the 33 political parties registered here held a motorcade on Tuesday to hammer home a message for a peaceful campaign to residents, Antara reported.

Kendari Mayor Mansyur Massie Abunawas saw the procession off from his office. Hundreds of participants in colorful uniform rode or walked the distance of eight kilometers to Eddy Sabara Square. They shouted their party slogans and invited onlookers to do the same in a friendly manner.

Later reports, however, said some participants took down some party flags that were already raised in front of the local election committee office, saying they ran out of flags.

Mayor Abunawas said the province in general and his city especially were safe so far.

Separately, however, provincial police chief Col. Amir Iskandar Panji Indra said many politicians have yet to understand the rules of the elections, including the need to notify police three days in advance before a party holds its campaigning rallies.

Out of the 33 contesting parties here, only 20 percent have complied with the rule, he said.

The province deployed 1,200 security personnel from the Indonesian Military and the political parties' activists, plus 2,000 police personnel. (swe)