Parties push ahead with premature campaigning

Parties push ahead with premature campaigning

JAKARTA (JP): Although the official election campaign period
is still a month away, political parties across the country have
moved their electioneering activities into high gear.

In some cities, motorcades of party supporters in colorful
uniforms and bandanas snaked through small streets and major
thoroughfares. No fatalities or violence has been reported over
the past three days from electioneering, which is officially
scheduled for May 19 through June 4.

However, there were some reports of harassment. The Suara
Pembaruan afternoon daily said on Sunday a dozen members of
ruling Golkar Party's security force were harassed in the Central
Java town of Boyolali as they returned from a gathering with
party chairman Akbar Tandjung.

They were blocked by a group of unidentified people on Jl.
Merbabu, and were allowed to go after being forced to remove
their party uniforms, the newspaper said.

Akbar and a number of party executives were in Boyolali for a
reading of the Koran to mark Islamic New Year, the first day of
Muharram on Saturday, which was celebrated on Sunday.

The Jakarta Post's correspondent in Boyolali witnessed the
arrival of Akbar's convoy -- comprising about 2,000 people, far
lower than the expected 20,000 -- at Sonolayu stadium, and said
the supporters were jeered at by locals.

When Akbar waved to the crowd, most people responded by
showing the finger sign of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) led by popular politician Megawati
Soekarnoputri.

Tension was felt when some people in the crowd shouted to
Golkar's security personnel -- numbering over 1,000, according to
provincial task-force commander Bambang Raya
-- "You're thugs".

Bambang said the security force included members of Golkar's
youth wings AMPI, PPM and FKPPI.

In his speech, Akbar said: "Yes, indeed there are people
intimidating us, but don't be afraid to stand up to them."

"I am here, and no riots have broken out as some press reports
said would happen if I came," he said.

Akbar was referring to strong opposition, voiced by various
parties, to his planned visit to Central Java, following a clash
between Golkar members and supporters of PDI Perjuangan.

However, Akbar's convoy chose an alternate route to continue
their journey to Surakarta, another central Java town, reportedly
to avoid mobs.

No mass gathering was held by Golkar in Surakarta, following
widely reported rejection by locals, Antara reported on Saturday.

Another incident took place in East Java's capital of
Surabaya.

A confrontation between supporters of the United Development
Party (PPP) and the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Party, was reported by
ANteve on Sunday. No injuries were reported.

The news agency also reported electioneering by PPP in West
Java's capital of Bandung and Jakarta, the People's Sovereignty
Party (PDR) in Jakarta, PDI Perjuangan in Jakarta, the Indonesian
Democratic Union Party (PUDI) in Central Kalimantan's capital of
Palangka Raya and the National Democratic Party (PND) in Lampung.

Meanwhile, at least 24 of the 32 parties represented in
Cirebon, West Java, held on Saturday a joint street rally,
calling for peaceful campaigning, the news agency said.

In Bandung on Saturday, influential Madurese figure Alawy
Muhamad of PPP's board of advisers called on Muslims across the
nation to unite and vote for PPP.

"If PPP wins, the party will strive to introduce Islamic
teaching into the life of society," he told a crowd of hundreds.

A street convoy followed after the gathering, but no violence
occurred, Antara reported.

In the Pasar Minggu area in South Jakarta, the chairman of the
Jakarta chapter of PDI Perjuangan, Roy B.B. Janis, officially
opened 70 "command outposts" scattered across the city.

As many as 2,500 have already been established in Jakarta, he
was quoted as saying.

The outposts, usually small bamboo huts painted red, are
placed at intersections and street corners as bases for
supporters to gather or conduct party activities.

Also in Jakarta, thousands of supporters of PDR gathered on
Saturday in the Senayan indoor sports stadium to declare the
establishment of the party.

Press reports have linked PDR to Minister of Cooperatives and
Small Enterprises Adi Sasono.

Party chairman Latief Burhan denied there was a connection,
the news agency said.

In Lampung, PND announced on Sunday Megawati's elder brother,
Guntur Soekarnoputra, was the party's candidate for president.

In Palangka Raya on Saturday, PUDI chairman Sri Bintang
Pamungkas introduced the party's political platform for "total
reform".

The reform plan consists of "seven pillars": direct election
of president and vice president; regional autonomy within the
unitary state framework; reform of legislative bodies; the
revocation of the military's sociopolitical role; establishment
of an independent judiciary; the upholding of human rights; and
amendment of the 1945 Constitution. (44/aan)