PPP chief Ismail promises political reforms if party wins
JAKARTA (JP): The Moslem-based United Development Party (PPP) promised political reforms yesterday if it won the May 29 general election.
Party chief Ismail Hasan Metareum said in a message to party members nationwide that the party would seek to make laws that politically and economically benefited the people.
"Such laws are needed to change people's fate for the better and to empower them so they can have a say in directing the change," he said.
Critics say that as in past elections, the upcoming poll will be nothing more than an event designed to maintain the status quo because Golkar will most likely retain its domination of the political system.
Ismail noted that after five elections, people could still not fully realize their desire for change.
"What we have seen is that people do not have the freedom to exercise their basic right to vote. Some are even deprived of their political rights," he said.
Ismail said that in the coming election, people should be treated like "kings" and retain their right to vote for any party without fear.
"They should be free to vote for a party that they believe can initiate change," he said.
PPP is competing against the dominant Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) for 425 seats in the 500-seat House of Representatives. The remaining 75 seats are allotted to the military, whose members do not vote.
For security reasons, the PPP did not campaign in Jakarta yesterday. Its campaigns in other parts of Java were marred by violence.
In Semarang, police rounded up 150 people in PPP attire on charges of insulting police officers on duty. Many of those arrested were found to be carrying weapons and stones.
Its campaigns in Kendal and Pekalongan, both in Central Java, were also marred by mob violence that targeted public facilities.
In Surabaya, the party campaigns proceeded under heavy security. No disturbances were reported.
In the East Java town of Pasuruan, 75 kilometers south of Surabaya, police were kept busy safeguarding their headquarters in anticipation of fresh attacks.
Pasuruan has seen two major riots targeting police offices since the campaign began on April 27.
PPP East Java chapter chairman Syumli Syadli said the party would go on campaigning tight through to the last day on Friday despite the raising tension.
Syumli told The Jakarta Post that the party would feature poet Emha Ainun Nadjib at a rally on Friday which would be held in the form of a grand prayer service.
Syumli said the mass gathering remained the party's most effective way to draw people's sympathies.
On the unrest, he said: "It's not our wish to see such brutality and violence. Besides, we have trust on the security forces."
Commenting on the PPP's decision to go on campaigning, East Java governor Basofi Soedirman said: "It is PPP's right. We don't want to influence them."
In Bogor, West Java, hundreds of PPP supporters marched 10 kilometers through the town, finishing in Empang, and caused massive traffic congestion. (aan/nur/23/24)