PDI's chairman slams single majority
DILI, East Timor (JP): The Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) broke its campaign silence yesterday with a call to end Golkar's political monopoly.
PDI Chairman Soerjadi told thousands at the Pramuka field here that the dominant position, which Golkar has occupied for over 25 years, had allowed the political grouping stamp its authority over state affairs at the public's expense.
Golkar has won the last five general elections under the New Order administration. It has vowed to maintain its dominance by winning 70.02 percent of the vote in the May 29 poll.
"Our constitution stipulates that people have power over the state. Therefore, the single majority is very dangerous," Soerjadi said.
The system has let Golkar form cabinets without consulting the two other parties, Soerjadi pointed out.
The PDI was due to campaign in Padang, West Sumatra, yesterday but it canceled its rally because no one turned up.
Fatimah Achmad, chairwoman of PDI members in the House of Representatives, was due to speak at the rally.
Antara reported that some people bound for the rally in Kompi C field turned back when they saw it was empty.
"The PDI campaign here has been so quiet that we found no (party) leaflets on our way to the field," a PDI sympathizer said. "Instead of PDI supporters, I saw a real bull grazing there," he added. The PDI's symbol is a bull's head.
PDI provincial branch chairman Taharuddin Tha'at complained that his office could not afford to hold the rally.
PDI also seems to be running out of steam in West Nusa Tenggara. Only four of its rallies went ahead yesterday. Less than half of the venues' capacities were filled.
The party canceled its rallies in Mataram, Bima and Dompu.
In Ambon, Maluku, the PDI drew only 70 people to its gathering Wednesday. Most of the audience were less than 17 years old. Antara reported that despite the poor turnout, the five local campaigners put on a brave face and delivered their speeches.
On Wednesday, PDI rallies had tight security in Jakarta.
At a PDI rally in Malang, East Java, Wednesday, hundreds of leaflets were distributed to persuade supporters to boycott the government-backed leadership under Soerjadi.
A group of people wearing the party's red T-shirts tossed the leaflets from a speeding pickup on Jl. Brig. Gen. Katamso, one of the town's main streets, Antara reported.
The police quickly chased away the pickup and swept away the leaflets.
Hundreds of teenage PDI supporters formed a motorcade which toured the town after the rally. The enthusiastic youths broke the law on Jl. Ciliwung when they took down tens of Golkar flags. A youth was apprehended for burning one of the flags. (33/amd)