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)