Parties Still obsessed with shows of foece
Parties Still obsessed with shows of foece
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Even though the political parties are legally confined to hold
their rallies indoors for most of the campaign period, they are
still obsessed with parading through town in a "show of force"
with huge gangs of mostly tough-looking young men waving flags.
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) is no
exception, with many cities turning red on Tuesday, including
Jakarta, as a part of the party's strategy to "impress" voters by
the strength of the party, despite growing complaints about the
behavior of the red and black-clad gangs.
The party had thousands of supporters engaged in noisy rallies
on the capital's major streets although the supporters are only
supposed to attend indoor campaigns in various parts of the city,
according to the Election Law.
One of the largest crowds was seen at the Sumantri
Brodjonegoro sports complex in South Jakarta, with party
executives Mangara Siahaan and Sabam Sirait as campaigners.
Senior member Taufik Kiemas, who is also the husband of the
party's chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri, told the party's
supporters in Sukabumi, West Java that only when his wife's party
wins a landslide victory -- and mandate -- in the April 5
legislative election would the country be able to achieve its
objective of creating a prosperous society.
Taufik said the party should be able to secure between 30
percent and 40 percent of the country's 147 million voters. In
1999, they won 34 percent. Megawati has previously said there was
a 50 percent target.
Taufik also warned the party's supporters to change their
behavior. "Even before the election campaign actually, we knew
that we would win. But, if you (supporters) do not abide by the
regulations, and you don't start being polite, even acting
brutally, then we will be the loser," said Taufik during a
campaign speech.
The party also changed Kupang, the capital city of East Nusa
Tenggara, into a sea of red, as an estimated 100,000 supporters
took to the streets.
The party' campaigners Lt. gen. (ret) Theo Syafei and former
minister of environment Sonny Keraf urged the supporters to
maintain the party's power.
"I have campaigned everywhere, but today is the largest," Theo
told supporters at Lasitarda soccer field in Kupang.
Meanwhile, around 2,000 supporters of the Reform Star Party
(PBR) packed the Senen sports building in Central Jakarta to
attend the party campaigns, presenting a number of legislative
candidates including its chairman Zainuddin MZ.
Zainuddin strongly criticized politicians of major political
parties, who failed to deliver on their promises to combat
corruption, collusion and nepotism (KKN).
"How dare they say they are fighting KKN?" said Zainuddin.
According to Zainuddin, economic development should be for all
citizens, and would be a key to resolving various problems,
including poor education standards, poor security conditions and
poverty.
Separately, legislative candidates from the Prosperous Justice
Party (PKS) on Tuesday took to Jl. Mampang Prapatan in South
Jakarta to meet and greet commuting citizens, who packed the
public transportation minibuses passing by the party's main
office.
In the minibuses, the legislative candidates introduced
themselves to the sweating passengers. However, it all caused a
massive traffic jam along the street as hundreds of buses packed
with the party supporters opted to take the streets to give
support for the candidate.
Meanwhile Antony Z. Abidin, an executive member of Golkar,
said on Tuesday that the party had warned Golkar's presidential
candidates Surya Paloh and Prabowo Subianto about attacking other
candidates during their campaigning.
In Padang, Democratic Party (Partai Demokrat) leader Subur
Budhisantoso reiterated that the party's commitment was to
pluralism. He also promoted the party's presidential candidate
Gen. (ret.) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
In Salatiga, Central Java, the Crescent Star (PBB) leader
Yusril Ihza Mahendra promised free education.