PDI orator losing listeners

PDI orator losing listeners

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Nico Daryanto, probably one of the greatest orators the once pro-Soeharto Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) has ever had, is losing his audience.

Two years ago, thousands of people attended his fiery campaign speech. But on Tuesday, only about 50 people, mostly children, were present at his campaign on the same soccer field.

Obviously, Nico lost his listeners to Megawati Soekarnoputri, who leads the breakaway PDI Perjuangan following a government- sponsored 1996 rebel congress in Medan.

Despite the small audience, Nico was just as high-spirited on Tuesday. But the few party supporters present gave unexpected responses to his favorite rhetoric, Antara reported.

When he said, "Ladies and gentlemen, PDI is fighting for democracy. Do you think there was democracy in the New Order era?" his listeners, lying on the grass, got up and replied in chorus, "Yes!", to the laughter of the poll watchers present.

After rumbling on about how the Soeharto regime cared only for the rich, he asked, "So, who owns those skyscrapers in Jakarta?" To the amusement of police officers guarding the campaign, the audience replied, "PDI!"

While the campaign was in progress, youths played soccer on the other half of the field. (pan)