PDI glad handing stopped by police
JAKARTA (JP): A rare campaign by the government-sanctioned faction of the Indonesian Democratic party (PDI) came a cropper in South Jakarta yesterday.
Police stopped hundreds of PDI supporters distributing plastic bags displaying the party's symbol of a bull's head to shoppers at nine markets.
South Jakarta Police chief, Lt. Col. Sisno Adiwinoto, issued the last-minute ban, citing security reasons.
PDI South Jakarta branch chairman Tjuk Sudono said the bag distribution program at Blok M, Pasar Minggu, Pasar Rumput, Pondok Labu, Bukit Duri and Pengadegan markets was impromptu.
"We just wanted to offer an alternative campaign, but unfortunately we only informed the police about it yesterday (Wednesday)," a dejected Sudono said.
Police election campaign guidelines say that police must be given seven-days notice of campaign programs.
Sudono said the PDI South Jakarta branch would distribute the bags in the next campaign round Sunday. He had already sought a police permit.
The PDI's other glad-handing campaigns ran smoothly in Bogor, West Java, last Sunday with supporters giving flowers to drivers at the Jagorawi toll road exit.
But a PDI rally in Papanggo, North Jakarta, almost ended in a brawl because about 200 Megawati Soekarnoputri supporters occupied the rally's meeting hall for three hours. Megawati has been sidelined as the party's leader.
About 200 police and soldiers dispersed the Megawati supporters who yelled support for the daughter of Indonesia's founding president Sukarno.
The campaign in Papanggo, featuring city councilor Sahala Sinaga, eventually went ahead with only 60 people attending.
Quiet dialog
Most of the PDI's campaigns in the city involved indoor speeches. But the audiences -- mostly teenagers and children -- were more interested in watching supporters ride around on motorbikes outside the venues.
Many of the audience followed the motorcyclist to the streets where they formed small motorcades.
In Karet Tengsin, Central Jakarta, only 60 people stayed until the speeches ended. In Jelambar, West Jakarta, only around 100 people waited until the end.
PDI deputy secretary Romulus Sihombing, who addressed an audience in Jelambar, said that most Indonesians were not ready for indoor campaigning.
"Most Indonesians lack political education. They enjoy deafening street rallies rather than sharing fresh ideas," said Romulus, a House candidate for Jakarta.
With the most of the audience made up of middle and lower classes, Romulus said he was delighted that three youths asked questions.
In Bogor, hundreds of PDI supporters packed the streets in a motorcade that went to the Dreded Hero Cemetery, where they scattered flower petals on the graves.
Police in Cimahi, West Java, interrupted a PDI rally because they said it was a discussion and not a speech as planned.
West Java chapter secretary Marini said the organizers wanted to change the program after national campaigner Andi Chaerul Muis unexpectedly turned up for the rally.
A record 10,000 people attended a government-recognized Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) rally at Pendidikan field in Wamena, Irian Jaya. It turned into a festival as native Irianese audience from Dani tribe performed traditional dance during the rally which featured party chairman Soerjadi.
The Dani tribesmen, coming from nine districts across the town, had previously flanked Soerjadi with a dance festival along his way from his hotel to the campaigning site.
Security officers kept a close watch on the parade, but no incidents happened until the mass gathering ended.
Soerjadi criticized dominant political grouping Golkar in his speech for claiming that successful development program is of its lone share.
"Development involves all Indonesian people, not a single group," Soerjadi said.
A contrasting mood swept Surabaya as the PDI branch in the mayoralty canceled all rallies following a brawl-interrupted rally on Monday. (24/ahy/pwn/cst/amd)