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.