PDI Perjuangan, PAN steal the show in South Sulawesi
UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi (JP): The third day into the campaign season proceeded in a relatively peaceful way here on Friday, with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and the National Mandate Party (PAN) exchanging morale support.
Supporters of the two parties, which are expected to collect the lion's share of the vote between them, were seen greeting one another and exchanging party attributes whenever they met on the streets.
The street rally of the two parties was the highlight of the campaign day, although one PDI Perjuangan fan, Fachri, fell to his death from a speeding truck. The supporters eventually merged for a joint motorcade across the city before dispersing as dusk neared.
Earlier in the day, thousands of PDI Perjuangan supporters gathered at the downtown Mattoangin Stadium for an assembly featuring campaigner and legislative candidate Sophan Sophiaan.
In his speech, film actor Sophan told the nation to revive the concept of national unity initiated by founding president Sukarno, the father of party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri.
Sophan said that under Megawati the party would get the country back on the right track and combat corruption and collusion.
"The nation needs Megawati's leadership to emerge from the turmoil. She is the most suitable figure for the job," Sophan said.
PDI Perjuangan has nominated Megawati as its sole presidential candidate.
Separately, in his address to a crowd of thousands packing Bawakaraeng square, PAN campaigner Mohammad Askin said the party's chairman, Amien Rais, fits the bills for the presidency because "he is the most consistent reform figure".
East Java's capital of Surabaya saw a sea of red on Friday when thousands of PDI Perjuangan fans went took to the streets after attending outdoor assemblies across the city. Heavy traffic jams were seen where party supporters passed intersections, where many of them would stop and dance while yelling support for chairwoman Megawati.
"Long live Megawati! Megawati for president!" they shouted.
The head of the party's provincial chapter, Soecipto, told a mass rally at Kutisari soccer field to fight it out to win for the party in the June polls.
"We have been forced to keep silent for years. The time is now for us to regain our feet and win," he said.
Provocateurs
During campaign activities in Surabaya, chief of the Brawijaya Military Command overseeing East Java Maj. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu said he had identified at least 40 provocateurs. He said they had been sent from Jakarta to cause unrest in the province, Surabaya in particular.
"They are grouped in a close-knit organization and are ready to provoke people," Ryamizard said as quoted by Antara. He declined to identify the group.
It was his second statement referring to the actions of provocateurs in the province.
"The people have provoked supporters of PPP (United Development Party) and PKB (National Awakening Party) to attack each other and disrupt party functions held by Golkar," he said.
Ryamizard said the group had been trained in Malang, some 90 kilometers south of Surabaya, in Madiun, 170 kilometers west of Surabaya, and in Cipinang, East Jakarta.
"I'm telling the truth. Being a military commander, I can give evidence," he said.
His Central Java counterpart, Maj. Gen. Bibit Waluyo, said he had also detected a certain group based in Jakarta who planned to instigate unrest in the province and the neighboring city of Yogyakarta.
Speaking after a visit to the provincial police's crisis center, Bibit said the group members usually mingled with supporters of a certain party, pretending they were fanatical party backers. (27/nur/amd)