PPP promises to pioneer political change
PPP promises to pioneer political change
JAKARTA (JP): The United Development Party (PPP) ended its 27-
day campaign yesterday by reiterating its determination to help
the public by pioneering change in the political system.
PPP chief Ismail Hasan Metareum said the current system
allowed widespread corruption and power abuse.
High on the PPP's agenda would be the abolition of illegal
levies and bribes that people now paid when dealing with
government agencies, he said.
"PPP will make sure that there won't be illegal levies and
bribes when people tend to their ID cards and apply for
employment in government offices," he told a rally in Serang,
West Java.
The PPP's last rallies were marred with riots in Jakarta and
several towns in Java. In Jakarta, thousands of PPP supporters
poured into the streets although the party's leadership had
decided it was too dangerous to hold gatherings.
Ismail said the government's policies favored the privileged
few.
"PPP will seek laws that give workers more protection so that
employers won't be able to dismiss their workers arbitrarily," he
said.
Ismail said that law enforcement did not work for the
oppressed. "We don't want to see ordinary people jailed for
committing petty crimes while officials are untouchable."
In Yogyakarta, an estimated 75,000 supporters gathered in the
city's Northern Square in front of Sultan Hamengku Buwono X's
palace to listen to a speech by PPP campaigner Syukri Fadholi.
Many supporters ignored the government's ban on carrying Mega-
bintang banners, which suggest an alliance between the PPP and
Megawati Soekarnoputri, the ousted leader of the Indonesian
Democratic Party (PDI).
Megawati announced Thursday that she would not vote in the
election, but this does not seem to have affected her loyalists
who want to vote for PPP on May 29.
Tension ran high yesterday amid rumors of impending riots.
Many shops closed and the business districts were quiet.
PPP turned Surabaya green as an estimated 100,000 party noisy
supporters swarmed the city's streets. A rally in Bungkul square
featured well-known intellectual Emha Ainun Najib and PPP
secretary-general Tosari Widjaya.
Emha, who has had some of his plays banned, criticized the
government's policies that shackled people's freedom of
expression.
"For many years, people have been under numerous restrictions.
The time has come for the people to make a change," he told the
enthusiastic crowd.
Emha, who spoke for about 15 minutes, is a top speaker. His
rare appearance ended his long silence on which party he
supported.
He said the PPP was a Moslem-oriented party so it would have
to have the courage to uphold the nation's political morality,
which he said had been adulterated by the arrogance of those in
power.
Tosari told the crowd the PPP would focus for the next few
years on struggling to overcome widespread injustice.
"We will always put moral and spiritual values above any of
our activities," he said.
Like in many places in Java, shops were closed for fear of
riots. The Atom shopping center, Pasar Turi, Tunjungan Plaza and
other business districts in Surabaya were closed for the whole
day.
In the afternoon, police were put on full alert following
rumors that the police headquarters would be attacked.
(nur/26/23/pan)