Parties' symbols and names for election announced

Parties' symbols and names for election announced

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M.
announced yesterday the names, symbols and numbers of the three
contestants in next year's general election.

The announcement was made following a meeting on May 21
between Yogie, in his capacity as chairman of the General
Election Institute, with the executive boards of the United
Development Party (PPP), the Golkar functional group and the
Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).

The names, symbols and numbers of the three contestants are
the same as those used during the last general election.

The PPP, which has a five-pointed star as its symbol, received
number one. Number two is the ruling political organization
Golkar, which has a banyan tree as its symbol. Number three
belongs to PDI, whose symbol is a bull's head.

Yogie said the three contestants have been allowed since
yesterday to post their names, symbols and numbers at their
headquarters, provincial chapter offices and branches, as well as
in public places.

He reminded the three contestants, however, that they may use
the names, symbols and numbers only to inform the public that
they will be participating in the general election. They are not
allowed to use the names, symbols and numbers to start
electioneering campaigns, he said.

"There will be a period set for election campaigning," he
said.

The General Election Institute has scheduled the campaign
period for April 29 to May 23, 1997. The general election itself
is scheduled for the beginning of June 1997.

The ruling Golkar and the Moslem-based PPP vowed yesterday to
win the general elections, while the nationalist-Christian
alliance PDI refused to be the "wooden spoon" of the race.

"PPP, which carries the number one, really expects to be
number one in next year's general election," chairman Ismail
Hasan Metareum said in his speech at the ceremony.

Golkar's secretary-general, Ary Mardjono, was then given the
opportunity to express his party's opinion on the establishment
of the names, symbols and numbers for next year's general
election.

"Although Golkar carries the number two, it does not mean that
the biggest political organization in the country will stand at
second place in the overall results of vote counting," Ary said.

"Golkar also wants to become the winner in the general
election. We hope that the majority of the people will channel
their political aspirations through Golkar," he added.

Golkar chairman Harmoko was not present at the ceremony, as he
was attending a hearing with the House of Representatives.

PDI chief Megawati Soekarnoputri made as spirited a speech as
her competitors.

"PDI carries the number three, but it does not mean that PDI
will again accept the third position, as it has done in the past
four general elections," she said.

Megawati, however, said that winning is not the most important
thing in the general elections. "Whether a general election is
successful or not has nothing to do with winning or losing," she
said. "The main thing is whether we can guarantee that the
people's sovereignty will be upheld here."

A number of cabinet ministers, who also members of the general
election institute, were on hand during yesterday's ceremony.
They included Minister of Defense and Security Gen. (ret) Edi
Sudradjat, Minister of Justice Oetojo Oesman, and Attorney
General Singgih, who chairs the Election Supervision Committee.
(imn)