Political parties' logos, numbers do matter in Irian Jaya
By Neles Tebay
JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya (JP): Of the 48 political parties contesting next month's elections, only 25 have branch offices in the eastern-most province.
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the Golkar Party, the United Development Party (PPP), the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the National Awakening Party (PKB) are the major parties attempting to woo Irianese voters.
Until very recently, the most familiar in the province were the old Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI), Golkar and PPP. These three parties already have branches in nine districts, so they have only needed to set up branches in three new districts: Paniai, Puncak Jaya and Mimika.
A major challenge for the parties is to promote their logo and number on the ballot paper.
"Our party and its logo are familiar here so we have practically no difficulty in familiarizing them among the locals," Budi Baldus Waromi, secretary of PDI Irian Jaya regional branch told The Jakarta Post.
Out of the 25 political parties, only Golkar has branches throughout the villages led by commissioners.
"We already have sub-district and village committees throughout Irian Jaya," said Ruben Gobay, deputy chairman of Golkar Party's Irian Jaya executive board.
Just like any other parties, Golkar, PDI and PPP, have to promote their serial numbers. "District executive boards, as well as sub-district and village committees, have been assigned to popularize the Golkar number all over this province," Gobay said.
Many voters remain unaware of Golkar's new number. Chairman of the Irian Jaya executive board TN Kaiway, who recently returned from Biak, recounted a funny story about the number issue.
In a meeting between the Irian Jaya executive board and community figures in Biak, a man told him the following: "Do not doubt us, sir. We, the people of Biak district, will remain loyal to number two (referring to Golkar's former number). "Well, these people still think that number two is Golkar. Now, number two belongs to the Indonesian Christian National Party (Krisna) and Golkar's number is 33.
"Unless Golkar intensifies popularization of its number, I am worried that Krisna Party will enjoy many accidental votes," Wempy Wola, head of Golkar's Irian Jaya directorate of sociopolitical affairs said. He said it was commonly understood among Irianese that number two was Golkar's number.
He said PDI could find itself in the same boat, as most people equate the number three with the PDI. "Unless PDI popularizes its new number, it will be PNI (the Indonesian Nationalist Party) that will garner a lot of votes, although PNI has no branches in Irian Jaya."
The most popular party is Megawati Soekarnoputri's PDI Perjuangan. Chairman of the party's Irian Jaya executive board, Ben Vincen Djeharu, said the biggest challenge facing his party is the promotion of its serial number -- 11.
"Our party is well known among Irian Jaya's people. Unfortunately, not many people here are aware that in this upcoming election the party's number is 11. Unless we embark on an information campaign, people will think our number is three," he said.
Illustrating Megawati's popularity, Yance Very Kogeya, chairman of the PDI Perjuangan Wamena branch, told a story about an illiterate man who was eager to vote for a party led by a woman.
Stanis Uropmabin, an employee at a private company in Jayapura, shared in the approval for PDI Perjuangan.
The party is by far the most impressive in popularizing its party number, particularly in the 12 district capitals and one municipality capital. In Jayapura, for example, PDI Perjuangan flags and stickers are prominent. These items have been very much sought after, as are the party's calendars.
In Hamadi village, Jayapura, a 61-year-old woman rushed out of her home upon hearing that the local board of PDI Perjuangan was distributing party stickers and banners. "Let me have one," she said. When she was given a banner, she kissed it.
While in previous elections Jayapura underwent "yellowization", the color of Golkar, today it has been turned red, the color of PDI Perjuangan. All over the city you can see "No. 11". "The same is also true in Biak," Ben said.
Parties other than PDI Perjuangan, PDI, PPP and Golkar are yet to undertake this critical job of introducing their names, logos/symbols, numbers and also completing their organizational structure in rural areas. In Jayapura, many people are not familiar with the symbols and numbers of parties, let alone in isolated sub-districts.
As of May 5, only four parties, namely PDI Perjuangan, Golkar, Murba Party and Love the Nation Democratic Party (PDKB) had established branches in all districts.
PDI Perjuangan has also had sub-district committees in the majority of sub-districts in Irian Jaya, while PAN and the People's Sovereignty Party (PDR) have established branches in 11 districts and in Jayapura. They are yet to set up branches in vital districts like Paniai and Puncak Jaya.
Other newly established political parties are yet to set up district branches. These parties acknowledged that their main problem was limited funds.
"Of course we wish to set up our sub-district and village committees, but we cannot do so because of a financial constraint," chairman of Murba Party's provincial executive board Frans Wayne said.
Other newly established political parties have found it difficult to popularize their logos and numbers also because of this financial constraint. That is why they earnestly hope Irian Jaya's governor will extend financial assistance to political parties for the upcoming elections.
Those parties successful in setting up their district branches have conducted their information campaigns as a result of financial aid from local districts and mayors. Jayapura mayor Roemantiyo, for example, provided Rp 5 million to each political party with a branch executive board in Jayapura municipality.
"In other districts, district heads have also financially assisted political parties in establishing their branches," said Wempy, without mentioning how much the assistance was.
Unless political parties establish sub-district and village committees and then popularize themselves in terms of their names and number, people in remote areas accessible only by plane or by boat will almost certainly vote for Golkar.
"The reason is that they are familiar only with one party, Golkar," said an Irian Jaya regional elections committee member.
Most Irianese in remote areas are illiterate and many suspect Golkar -- the only party with branches in these areas -- will cash in on this situation. This is the reason many parties in Jayapura have predicted that Golkar will win in isolated sub- districts, especially if Golkar is the only party represented there.
Meanwhile, it is predicted that in district capitals Golkar will probably lose.
A typical Irianese town dweller's remarks run as follows: "We have always helped Golkar win the elections, but unfortunately human right violations continue to be perpetrated and our natural resources have been depleted and taken to Jakarta to be enjoyed by non-Irianese people. When we have a problem, Golkar has never taken sides with us. Golkar has always sided with businessmen. Many times it has cheated us, the people. So, in the upcoming elections we will not vote for Golkar any more."
Migrants are expected to vote for new parties. Therefore, Golkar would possibly win only in Jayawijaya, Paniai and Puncak Jaya districts and in isolated sub-districts in other districts, particularly in places where Golkar is the sole party.
In previous elections, Paniai and Puncak Jaya districts invariably voted for Golkar. This year, however, PDKB and PDI Perjuangan have set up district executive boards there together with a few village committees.
One factor which will influence the choice of a party in sub- districts where Irianese are predominant will be the figures nominated on the list of legislative candidates.
"The fact that there are a lot of parties is confusing to us. That's why we have decided to vote for a party nominating the legislative candidates of our choice," Marius Tebay told The Post.
Asked if he was familiar with the Murba Party he retorted, "What party is it? What is its logo and what does it fight for?" He added that any party could establish a branch in Kamu sub- district but that the locals would vote for a party nominating legislative candidates they had proposed.
Time constraint
Time is another constraint facing political parties which have just established branches in Irian Jaya. The Islamic Community Party (PUI), for example, opened a branch in Jayapura on April 27. Chairman of the Irian Jaya provincial executive board said the party only had two district executive boards, namely in Jayapura municipality and Jayapura district.
"Owing to time and financial constraints, PUI has not set up its branches in 11 other districts," he said.
Unlike other provinces, religion is not a basis for support from voters. The National Mandate Party (PAN), for example, is enjoying support from the majority of people in Merauke district, most of whom are Christians.
PAN, chaired by Amien Rais, a former Muhammadiyah Islamic organization, has declared itself an "open" party.
Chairman of the PAN Merauke board, Max Mahuse, said PAN had set up committees in most sub-districts in Merauke. According to a member of the Jayapura board of PDI Perjuangan, some legislative candidates from this party in Merauke have also shifted their allegiance to PAN.
Massive support given by the Merauke population to PAN can be attributed to the figure of Max Mahuse alone. He is known as a staunch champion of human rights who defends the locals in land disputes.
He constantly tries to promote people's welfare through the social foundation, YAPSEL, which he leads. He is also chairman of the Customary Deliberative Institute of the Marind Tribe and chairman of the chamber of commerce and industry in Merauke district.
Except for PAN, PDI Perjuangan, Golkar and PDKB, other political parties in Irian Jaya have not set a target to win the upcoming elections.
Only four parties are expected to do well in next month's election in Irian Jaya: the Golkar Party, PDI Perjuangan, PAN and PDKB. Which of them will obtain the most votes will depend on how well they popularize their logos, numbers and programs.