PDI Perjuangan supporters turn city streets red

JAKARTA (JP): Sunday saw the first casualty of the campaign when a supporter of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), identified as Irham Isnandar, 24, was killed in a traffic accident on Jl. Ancol Barat in North Jakarta.

City police spokesman Lt. Col. Zainuri Lubis said Irham was riding on the top of a vehicle in a street rally when he fell off the vehicle and was hit by a truck which also was part of the convoy.

Three other PDI Perjuangan supporters suffered injuries in separate traffic accidents at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle and Jl. Samanhudi, both in Central Jakarta.

In Bogor, three PDI Perjuangan supporters suffered injuries in separate incidents during street rallies. Two of the injured were admitted to the Indonesian Red Cross Hospital there.

The supporters were part of a convoy driving through town on their way to Cibinong, where party chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri addressed a rally.

For the second time in the campaign, Jakarta turned red as thousands of PDI Perjuangan supporters poured into the streets on Sunday, giving the city a festive air.

People wore the party's red-and-black attributes bearing the party's bull logo. Some people painted their faces red, and others painted their faces red and green and carried the flag of the United Development Party (PPP), suggesting their sympathies were divided between the two parties.

During the street rallies, PDI Perjuangan supporters were warmly greeted by people across the city.

In front of Cipinang penitentiary, the campaign venue for the Democratic People's Party (PRD), whose chairman, Budiman Sudjatmiko, is a prisoner at Cipinang, PRD supporters hailed passing PDI Perjuangan supporters.

One result of the rallies was that public transport vehicles, including taxis, were difficult to find on Sunday. Rather than be caught in congestion, "many taxi drivers are taking the day off and joining the rallies", a taxi driver said, adding that PDI Perjuangan and PPP were popular among taxi drivers.

Campaign organizers have attempted to schedule the campaign so those parties with large numbers of supporters do not campaign on the same day in an attempt to avoid clashes and ease traffic.

However, traffic was backed up along most main roads in Jakarta on Sunday, including Jl. Jend. Sudirman, Jl. M.H. Thamrin, Jl. Gatot Subroto, Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said, Jl. Diponegoro and Jl. Imam Bonjol, as well as areas in Cikini, Matraman and Salemba.

At least two helicopters flying over the city dropped some 500,000 leaflets depicting Megawati and the party's number, 11.

"Look, messages from the sky," Kwik Kian Gie, an executive of PDI Perjuangan, said during a campaign rally.

A party executive declined to say how much the party paid for the helicopters.

"This is Red Sunday," Kwik shouted.

During the campaign rally, Kwik said PDI Perjuangan would most likely not issue any more joint communiques with other parties.

"The communique with the two parties -- the National Awakening party (PKB) and the National Mandate Party (PAN) -- is enough. We are concentrating on how to win the elections," Kwik said.

PDI Perjuangan supporters, however, seemed more interested in street rallies than campaign speeches. Less than 1,000 supporters showed up for a campaign rally in South Jakarta.

Meanwhile, at least 300 PRD supporters campaigned in front of Cipinang penitentiary in East Jakarta. The supporters, in red and yellow T-shirts, distributed orchids and brochures to motorists, supporters of PDI Perjuangan and dozens of riot police who watched their gathering.

An executive at PRD, Feisol Reza, said the security was "excessive" and that maybe there was fear the PRD supporters would use force to have Budiman and the other prisoners released.

Unfurling banners and waving party flags, the supporters listened to several speakers.

"The Habibie government should give Budiman amnesty and give him a chance to campaign for the party. The elections will not be fair and honest since Budiman is still in jail," Feisol said.

Supporters shouted, "Free Budiman."

Feisol said on Sunday his party was ready to coalesce with other "reformist" parties, saying he had contacted executives of the National Awakening Party (PKB), PDI Perjuangan, the Indonesian Democratic Union Party (PUDI) and the National Mandate Party.

Hundreds of supporters of minor parties, including the Indonesian's People Party (Pari) and the Abul Yatama Party, also held street rallies on Sunday. Other parties scheduled to campaign on Sunday included the People's Choice Party (Pilar), Love the Nation Democratic Party (PDKB), the Indonesian Syarikat Islam Party-1905 (PSII-1905), the Indonesian Masyumi Political Party, the Independent Nationalist Party (PKM) and the Democratic Catholics' Party. (edt/jun/24)