'Party flags, posters make Jakarta messier'
'Party flags, posters make Jakarta messier'
In conjunction with the election campaign period, the 24
political parties began putting up their flags and posters all
over the city. Various shapes, sizes and colors in overwhelming
abundance now adorn the city, however, it has given the city an
even less orderly look than normal. The Jakarta Post talked to
few Jakarta residents for their thoughts.
Adrianus Kwinta, 35, is a magazine sales executive. He lives
with his wife in Kelapa Dua, West Jakarta:
The city is so messy right now because of so many banners,
pamphlets and flags strung up everywhere with all the different
political parties' logos. Instead of giving clear information to
the people, such a mess just confuses everyone.
It seems that the campaign is sort of out of hand and pretty
annoying. I felt disturbed recently when I went to an
entertainment center and I discovered many pamphlets distributed
there. Some parties even have placed their paraphernalia at the
zoo. It's ridiculous. Do they think animals can understand all
their campaign stuff?
I don't like the way elections are done here, not even this
year's as it's just the same as previous elections.
Helena Simatupang, 30, is a bank employee in Central Jakarta.
She lives in Pulo Gebang, East Jakarta:
Everything is fine so far. I don't think posters and banners
along the roads have made Jakarta any uglier.
However, I wonder why only the big parties' have their stuff
hanging everywhere, dominating the city's streets. Maybe, it is
because they have more money to fund their campaign compared to
new or small parties.
Even though I don't really mind the mess, these mass rallies
and convoys of political party gangs are quite annoying. They
only worsen the traffic jams on the city streets, no civic
education is involved.
But I find something interesting from the parties' ads on TV
and radio. Their statements or their so-called vision and mission
are simply monotonous and boring. So, I just hurriedly change the
channel when I see a political ad.
-- The Jakarta Post