Party leaders join voting queues

JAKARTA (JP): President B.J. Habibie reprimanded his bodyguards for trying to scare off journalists who bombarded him with questions after voting, while his predecessor Soeharto thanked those wishing him a happy birthday, which falls on Tuesday.

Presidential hopeful Megawati Soekarnoputri, meanwhile, told the media to leave her alone.

"Please let them stand near me and ask questions," the President told his bodyguards who tried to get rid of a foreign TV cameraman after Habibie voted on Jl. Patra Kuningan Raya, near his private residence in South Jakarta.

Habibie arrived with his wife Hasri Ainun at the polling station erected in a field under a marquee just 150 meters from his house. The traveled there by minibus during a downpour.

He was listed as the ninth voter and waited 25 minutes for his turn while chairman of the polling station read out a written speech by General Elections Commission (KPU) chairman Rudini. The statement was read at all polling stations across the country.

"It is the first time that 48 parties have attended the elections being organized, monitored and controlled by the people," Habibie said after touring four polling stations in Jakarta.

Soeharto, who celebrates his 78th birthday on Tuesday, was accompanied by his eldest daughter Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, eldest son Sigit Harjojudanto and youngest daughter Siti Hutami Endang Adyningsih. He walked from his eldest daughter's house to a polling station 50 meters away on Jl. Yusuf Adiwinata, Central Jakarta, and waited in line for a few minutes.

"It is a secret," Soeharto replied when journalists asked him what party he voted for.

Golkar, which he established and firmly controlled during his terms in power, was defeated by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) at the polling station.

"Those who win and those who lose must have big hearts," said Siti, also known as Tutut, after voting.

Megawati was apparently too exhausted after the campaign period. On Sunday she visited the tomb of her father Sukarno in Blitar, East Java.

Wearing a white blouse and a blue skirt, Megawati walked to the polling station 50 meters from her South Jakarta residence.

"Get out of my house!" she yelled at local and foreign journalists who followed her back to her home.

According to Antara, she lost her patience when a desperate journalist shouted: "How will you lead this nation if you do not even care to make a single comment?"

Chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN) Amien Rais voted in his hometown of Yogyakarta and chatted with locals before casting his vote.

Amien is one of the most accessible presidential hopefuls. He was also among the few people, including presidential hopeful Sri Bintang Pamungkas, who criticized Soeharto when the latter was at the peak of his power.

Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung cautioned his political party members about possibility of losing the elections, and said Golkar was ready to act as an opposition party. He voted near his official South Jakarta residence in the Widya Chandra ministerial complex, where he is registered although he is no longer a minister.

Chairman of People's Democratic Party (PRD) Budiman Sudjatmiko and other six party executives were mere witnesses to the voting process at the Cipinang Penitentiary in East Jakarta as they were among prisoners who were not entitled to vote.

Budiman was sentenced to 13 years in prison in 1997 for subversion and has refused a pardon, saying he is innocent. By law, those serving more than five years are not eligible to vote in elections.

"We are not disappointed, but we hope that we will get about 2 percent of the seats," Budiman said.

His party won two votes at Soeharto's polling station and one at Habibie's polling station.

He may also expect much from his father Wartono Karyo Utomo's efforts in leading his party during the campaign period in Bogor, West Java. Wartono is Bogor's PRD chairman.

National Awakening Party (PKB) founder Abdurrahman Wahid boasted that his party would be able to defeat PDI Perjuangan, PAN and Golkar.

"Voters will turn their backs on the parties and vote for PKB," he crowed after voting, with help from his daughter.

PKB secretary-general Muhaimin Iskandar, who voted at the same polling station, cast his vote just before the 2 p.m. deadline. He initially arrived at 9:20 a.m. but left after seeing the long queue.

"I wanted to shave first," he said.

Said Aqiel Siradj, an executive of Nahdlatul Ulama led by Abdurrahman, skipped a 20-meter queue to vote, Antara reported.

The polling station in Ciganjur near Abdurrahman's residence was also where some 200 taxi drivers voted as the garage of PT Expres Taksi is near the polling station. (prb/ind/arh)