Parties hold peaceful convoy

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)