Pickup becomes campaign platform

RANGKASBITUNG, West Java: Broke and riddled with internal conflict, the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) cannot afford to build a platform to stage a campaign.

When its turn to campaign came on Saturday, local PDI leaders turned a pickup into an emergency platform on which they tried to boost supporters' spirit.

"Turning this van into a platform is more economical and faster than making a stage," a party official told Antara.

PDI is split into two opposing camps of Megawati Soekarnoputri, which has been barred from campaigning, and government-backed Soerjadi.

In several places in Java, Megawati supporters raided rallies organized by Soerjadi supporters. (pan)