PDI Perjuangan flexes its muscle in Friday's campaign
PDI Perjuangan flexes its muscle in Friday's campaign
JAKARTA (JP): Unchallenged in the sheer number of supporters
mobilized in its rallies, the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) dominated Friday's campaigning.
As hundreds of thousands of supporters flooded streets in
Jakarta, chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri's speech in Lampung
drew a crowd of about 30,000 to Way Halim Stadium in
Tanjungkarang mayoralty.
Warning her supporters against attempts to foil the elections,
Megawati urged them to vote on June 7.
"This year's general election has strategic value for
Indonesia's efforts to establish a new and credible government,
which is expected to bring the nation out of the prolonged
economic crisis," she said to the cheering crowd.
Earlier Friday, Megawati addressed about 5,000 supporters in
Metro, Central Lampung regency.
Meanwhile, at Cenderawasih Stadium in Jayapura, the capital of
the easternmost province of Irian Jaya, PDI Perjuangan secretary-
general Alexander Litaay addressed 4,000 supporters.
"What we all need is a new government which is free from the
elements of the New Order regime," he said in his speech.
PDI Perjuangan also dominated crowded Friday's election
campaigning after two days of calm in Bandung, West Java.
Sharing the campaign with the Muslim Community Party (PUI),
the Muslim Community Awakening Party (PKU), the Indonesia United
Islam Party (PSII) and the Abul Yatama Party, PDI Perjuangan
supporters jammed traffic as they rallied around the city after
Friday prayers.
Meanwhile, National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Amien Rais
completed on Friday his two-day barnstorming of the "horseshoe"
area of East Java. It encompassed cities including Bangkalan,
Pamekasan, Pasuruan, Lumajang, Probolinggo and Banyuwangi, which
are considered the stronghold of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the
country's largest Muslim organization.
PAN shared the election campaign zone with the United
Development Party (PPP) in Surabaya on Friday. The PAN rally was
held at Pancasila Stadium, with PPP featured at Bungkul Park.
Supporters of both parties crowded the streets of the East
Java capital after the gatherings.
Meanwhile, local election committees in Kediri mayoralty and
Kediri and Lamongan regencies discovered thousands of damaged
ballots.
In Lamongan, about 5,000 soiled ballots were found, while
7,000 ballots in Kediri regency and 2,000 in Kediri mayoralty
were already marked.
In Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi, chairman of the Crescent Star
Party (PBB) Yusril Ihza Mahendra asserted his party was free of
"dirty politics".
"PBB was established as a new political force, and will strive
to create security and free the people from fear," he told tens
of thousands of supporters on Friday.
Friday's campaigning in Ujungpandang was tainted by violence.
Scores of Golkar supporters attacked the chapter of the National
Mandate Party (PAN), resulting in a brawl and leaving several
cars of Golkar supporters damaged.
Separately, Golkar supporters also tried to attack a post of
PDI Perjuangan, but were blocked by the latter's supporters.
Police arrested 20 Golkar supporters who were carrying spears.
Constitution
Also on Friday in Ujungpandang, Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung
promised the party would campaign for an amendment to the 1945
Constitution, introduce limitations on presidential terms of
office and create a mechanism for direct presidential elections.
"The Golkar Party will propose to the House of Representatives
to amend the body of 1945 Constitution," Tandjung said after a
speech in the South Sulawesi capital.
The document contains 16 chapters and 37 articles, including
ones on the presidential term and presidential election
mechanism.
In Yogyakarta, hundreds of thousands of supporters of the
National Awakening Party (PKB) thronged the Dwi Windu soccer
field to listen to Abdurrahman Wahid.
Abdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur, is NU chairman. In the
gathering, he renewed his claim that PKB was the only party that
NU established and that other parties set up by NU followers were
unofficial.
He again likened NU to a hen whose egg was PKB. "The other
parties are the hen's droppings," he quipped.
Earlier in the day, Abdurrahman held a closed-door meeting
with Yogyakarta monarch Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X. No details
were divulged from the meeting.
Both men have been named by various groups as presidential
material.
In Ujungpandang, officials of the South Sulawesi chapter of
the People's Sovereignty Party (PDR) decided to cancel planned
campaigning on Thursday after finding out the executive board
nominated Minister of Cooperatives Adi Sasono as its presidential
candidate.
The chapter has named incumbent B.J. Habibie.
"It's a mistake and will tear the party's unity apart as it
has never been discussed in a party leadership meeting," said
Mubil Handaling, chairman of the PDR's South Sulawesi chapter.
"If the executive board continues with its maneuver, PDR's
South Sulawesi chapter will dissolve itself."
(23/24/27/30/34/43/nur/swa/imn)