PDI Perjuangan, PAN steal the show in South Sulawesi

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)