Parties use various methods to gain support

Parties use various methods to gain support

The Jakarta Post
Jakarta

Idealists and officials have spoken for years of the benefits of
"dialog campaigns" rather than rowdy rallies and convoys, but on
the fifth day of campaigning, political parties were still
struggling to get people interested in any attempt at dialog.

The legislative campaign kicked off on Thursday, however, on
Monday it was already clear that serious dialogs, intended to
inform the electorate of the platforms of political parties, were
hardly crowd pleasers. Much more attractive were giveaways and
free entertainment.

Even the issue of jobs, which was raised by noted economist
Dradjad H. Wibowo on behalf of the National Mandate Party (PAN),
barely attracted the interest of the crowd.

Addressing some 300 supporters at the Youth Center in East
Jakarta, Dradjat promised that PAN would allocate a certain
portion of the state budget for programs to reduce unemployment.
There are currently about 40 million unemployed people in the
country.

After 10 minutes, the economist asked the audience to sing,
perhaps aware that it would be difficult to engage them for much
longer.

Separately in Bulungan sports hall in South Jakarta PAN
legislative candidate Sjaifoel Tanjung climbed the stage and
asked supporters: "Why are you here?" To his disappointment, the
united reply was: "Don't know".

Tanjung informed them that their attendance was driven by
similar hopes, namely the creation of better political and
economic conditions.

PAN supporter Yayan, 22, of Ulujami in South Jakarta, told The
Jakarta Post that he was not really interested in legislative
candidates.

"I came here simply to have fun," said Yayan who, along with
his friends, was expecting a free lunch and transport
compensation.

In Central Jakarta, the Concern for the Nation Functional
Party (PKPB) distributed at least 2,500 packages of staple food
items to poor people living in the vicinity of Jl. Raden Saleh,
Central Jakarta. The party's vote-getter is businesswoman Siti
Hardiyanti Rukmana, a daughter of former president Soeharto who
is popular for her programs for the poor.

The packages, bear party symbols and include rice, instant
noodles and milk powder.

The Indonesian Nahdlatul Community Party (PPNUI) campaigned
for the first time today in all of the capital's five
municipalities.

Over 500 PPNUI supporters in white and green T-shirts gathered
at the Kali Deres sports building on Jl. Pela Utara, West
Jakarta, to listen to the speeches of the party's three
legislative candidates.

The speakers exploited the failures of the current government
to overcome poverty, reduce the cost of education and stabilize
the prices of staple commodities.

"We have been cheated by large political parties. They
promised to improve our welfare in their campaigns, but the
condition now contradict their promises," said Bunyamin H.N., a
candidate for the Jakarta City Council.

Two other speakers -- Yahya Muhammad, a candidate for the
House of Representatives and Hasanuddin Fauzi, another candidate
for the City Council -- made similar speeches and called for
Muslims to unite.

None of the campaigners took the time to explain their
platforms. The meeting was also void of dialog with the audience,
many of whom left before the end of the speeches.

Tragedy has already marred the campaign period.

North Sulawesi's chairman of the Election Supervisory
Committee (Panwaslu) Toar Palilingan disclosed that two people
were killed while campaigning.

Roland Sambuari and Siun Mokobombong, respectively supporters
of Golkar and the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKP
Indonesia), were electrocuted while installing party flags, he
said.

In Pedan district, Klaten, Central Java, PAN supporter Suwardi
died after being assaulted by Budi Widodo alias Mehong, whom
locals claim is a thug and also a supporter of the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

Klaten police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Arief Dharmawan said it was
only a brawl between individuals.