PPP not set on Islamic state: Hamzah

PPP not set on Islamic state: Hamzah

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

United Development Party (PPP) leader Hamzah Haz asserted on
Saturday his party did not want to turn Indonesia into an Islamic
state.

"The first principle (of Pancasila is belief in) one God,
which is a declaration that Indonesia is a religious nation," he
told thousands of supporters during a campaign rally at the Bung
Karno Sports Complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta.

PPP is one of five Muslim-based political parties contesting
the elections. The other four are the Crescent Star Party (PBB),
the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the Indonesian Nahdlatul
Community Party (PPNUI) and the Reform Star Party (PBR).

Tens of thousands of party supporters, most of them wearing
the party's green T-shirts, gathered at the sports complex on
Saturday for the PPP's final day of campaigning in the capital
ahead of the April 5 legislative election.

Most of the supporters, however, did not enter the main
stadium where Hamzah, who is also Vice President, delivered his
speech.

Many of the PPP backers took to the streets on motorcycles, in
buses and on trucks, waving flags and shouting their support for
the party. These PPP street convoys caused serious traffic
congestion in the area.

The Freedom Bull National Party (PNBK) also held a campaign
rally in the city on Saturday.

During the rally, which was attended by party leader Eros
Djarot and thousands of supporters, several of the PNBK's
legislative candidates pledged not to become involved in
corruption and to fight for the interests of the people if
elected.

Ugiek Sugihardjo, previously a member of the ruling Indonesia
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said he was prepared to be
jailed if he ever became involved in corruption.

The United Democratic Nationhood Party (PPDK) held a campaign
rally at the Pancasila University soccer field in Central
Jakarta.

About 2,000 people attended the rally, drawn by party leader
Andi Mallarangeng and popular dangdut singer Itje Trisnawati.

Andi told supporters not to vote for parties that had made
promises in the past that they failed to live up to.

Campaigners for the New Indonesia Alliance Party (PPIB) called
for a change in the political scene, saying this was the only way
to revive the economy.

The campaigners included legislative hopefuls Fikri Jufri,
Hendry Tjandra and Rosita S. Noer, and party secretary-general
Sumitro.

"What we need is a clean leader who will be able to sweep up
all the dirty work of past governments," Sumitro told 2,000
supporters.

In Medan, North Sumatra, Amien Rais expressed optimism his
National Mandate Party (PAN) would emerge from the legislative
election as the second largest party.

He said reform in the country had stalled because the 1999
elections had produced few reform-minded leaders.

In Cirebon, West Java, possible Golkar presidential candidate
Surya Paloh continued to hammer away on the theme of corruption,
even though the party's central board earlier warned him not to
raise the issue during the campaign.

"In China, corruptors are shot dead. It is very odd that I was
warned not to raise the issue," he told thousands of Golkar
supporters.

In Atambua, East Nusa Tenggara, three supporters of the
Pancasila Patriots' Party were injured when a group of people
threw stones at party supporters heading to a campaign rally.

Local police said the incident, which is under investigation,
was a criminal act and had no connection to the elections.