PDI Perjuangan closes with a roar

PDI Perjuangan closes with a roar

JAKARTA (JP): An estimated one million red-clad supporters of
the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)
reigned in the capital on Thursday, putting on a grand finale to
the three-week campaigning when they came out in full force to
congest streets and alleys.

Chanting "Long live Mega," the masses practically shut down
transportation from and heading toward the Hotel Indonesia
traffic circle in South Jakarta, which they turned into a big
stage show of support for party chairwoman Megawati
Soekarnoputri.

Employees of offices along the Jl. Sudirman and Jl. M.H.
Thamrin thoroughfare joined the festivity which had been actually
started by groups of supporters from Thursday midnight.

In the afternoon, Megawati was flown in on a helicopter to a
field in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, where she addressed 50,000
supporters, telling them to watch polling booths during
balloting on Monday.

"In the past, riggings took place in the polling stations. So
go there and watch until ballot counting is finished," she said.

Wearing black, Megawati was accompanied by Muslim preacher
Habib Abubakar Assegaf, her husband Taufik Kiemas, and stepsister
Kartika Soekarnoputri.

"We have been oppressed for many, many years. We have been
pushed aside for many, many years but now we can win," the
daughter of Indonesia's founding president, Sukarno, said. "Do
not sell your vote."

"United we are strong. Divided we will fall," she said.

Monday's ballot will be followed in November with the election
of a new president. Megawati and leading Moslem figure and
academic Amien Rais are viewed as the strongest candidates to
succeed the incumbent B.J. Habibie.

Red-clad party faithfuls riding in and atop trucks, cars and
motorcycles thronged the streets, waving flags, tooting horns,
banging drums and yelling support for Megawati at the campaign
venue.

As they waited for Megawati's arrival, a fire engine sprayed
water on the crowd to cool them down, bringing cheers. Among the
supporters were a group of transvestites, including one wearing a
bikini and grass skirt and riding on top of a bus.

There were few troops on the streets, but Megawati's party
deployed about 800 of its own security officials.

Thursday's rally also caused a number of accidents, including
one which killed a toddler in Ciledug, Tangerang, in West Java.

Police said Para Dea Melinda, 2, of Sudimara Timur
subdistrict, was hit when she darted across Jl. H.O.S.
Tjokroaminoto by a truck carrying PDI Perjuangan supporters. It
was not clear whether the child was without adult's supervision.

Meanwhile, at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, two trailer
trucks were parked with dozens of female supporters wearing tight
red T-shirts pranced about on top.

A group of Irian Jayans wearing traditional clothes also
danced to the cheers of thousands of supporters lingering at the
roundabout. Several party supporters managed to climb the Welcome
Statue at the traffic circle and position the party flag and a
big banner. Other supporters also unfurled a long banner
surrounding the traffic circle.

A marching band which were employees of Medco Corporation, a
company controlled by party loyalist Arifin Panigoro, entertained
supporters on Jl. Sudirman.

PRD

Meanwhile, around 500 supporters of the Democratic People's
Party (PRD) flocked Jl. Salemba, Central Jakarta, in the evening
causing a heavy traffic jam on the street. The supporters, mostly
students, played loud music and set off fire works.

About 20 youths taking part in the festivity were seen wearing
T-shirts and vests that were emblazoned by the forbidden
communist symbol of a hammer and sickle, while others wore the
swastika symbol which represents Nazism.

An executive of PRD, Aan Rusdiyanto, who is also a member of
the National Elections Committee (PPI), denied any knowledge
about the forbidden symbols. "The party did not distribute
anything, that's none of our business," he said. "That is their
(the youths) own initiative."

Later in the evening, the party fans moved toward the General
Elections Commission (KPU) office on Jl. Imam Bonjol, Central
Jakarta, but were blocked by security personnel. The incident
forced security personnel to close some streets leading toward
Jl. Imam Bonjol.

Aan, however, said they were not campaigning but
demonstrating.

"We want to show our support for students of Aceh's Solidarity
Movement (SMUR) who have been on a hunger strike for a few days,"
Aan said.

The Acehnese students in Banda Aceh have been calling on the
government to postpone the elections until calm and peace return
to the troubled province.

The youths dispersed peacefully afterward. (edt/ind/jun)