PDI Perjuangan debates poll tactics

PDI Perjuangan debates poll tactics

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) executives regrouped in Bogor, West Java on Wednesday
to discuss strategies to win the upcoming general election.

Speaking at the opening of the three-day meeting, the first
since the party qualified for the June 7 polls, PDI for Struggle
chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri asked party executives at all
levels to educate voters across the country with the technical
aspect of elections.

"We have to activate communication posts already set up
nationwide to accommodate gatherings and encourage awareness of a
fair and just general election," Megawati said.

Thousands of communication posts, better known as Posko Gotong
Royong (cooperative command posts), have been built in villages
across Java and Bali. In East Java alone, dubbed one of the
party's strongholds, there are about 10,000 black-and-red posts.

Megawati said consolidation in small groups would be more
effective than holding mass rallies.

"It is no use if thousands of people attend our rallies and it
transpires that most of them do not hold identity cards."

ID cards are mandatory for Indonesian citizens to vote.

Megawati also warned party executives to refrain from
selfishness and nepotism when selecting legislative candidates.

"We have to put our personal interests aside and pick only the
best candidates. Selfishness and nepotism deter democracy."

Chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) Budi
Hardjono said he was optimistic his party would maintain its 11
seats in the House of Representatives.

Budi said PDI has 27 branches throughout the country with a
total of 306 chapters at regency level.

"We will support a fair, open and peaceful general election.
We will try to avoid conflict against other parties," he said
referring to a recent attack committed by PDI for Struggle
members against him in Bandarlampung, Lampung.

In Jakarta, the Chinese Indonesian Reform Party, which did not
qualify for the elections, announced it would deploy volunteers
to monitor the polls.

"We realize that monitoring activities are good for the sake
of people's political education," party leader Lieus Sungkharisma
said on Wednesday.

In Jambi, several members and party executives of the United
Development Party (PPP) decided to leave and join the United
Party (PP) led by PPP former chairman Jaelani Naro, Antara
reported.

Chairman of Jambi's PPP chapter Abdul Kadir confirmed the
exodus, saying that members -- including chief of PPP board of
intellectuals Yusuf Husein -- were disappointed with Yusuf's
failure to win the top job in the chapter.

In Semarang, Central Java, the chapter of National Mandate
Party (PAN) demanded the three seasoned political parties,
Golkar, PPP and PDI, return all government facilities for the
sake of fair elections.

"All of the parties must undertake the contest from the same
position. It is better for the government to take the facilities
back and give them to the public," said Hadi Pranoto, leader of
Central Java's PAN chapter. (edt)