PPP chief Ismail promises political reforms if party wins
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)