Pro-Megawati supporters lead rallies on Java
JAKARTA (JP): Thousands of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) supporters staged simultaneous protests in major cities on Java on Sunday, encouraging Megawati Soekarnoputri to continue her struggle for presidency.
About 25,000 party supporters thronged the main streets in the Central Java town of Surakarta on Sunday, expressing support for Megawati's presidential bid.
"We want her (Megawati) to know that we are behind Ibu Megawati every step of the way," Willy Tandio, coordinator of the protesters, said.
A counterprotest was staged by some 1,000 activists from 17 Muslim groups in Jakarta, urging the city police to take stern measures against "certain groups" mobilizing people to forward their political interests by staging street justice and violent action.
"Security personnel must take stern measures in accordance with the law," Habib Hussein Umar, an executive of the Collective Forum of Islamic Mass Organizations, told The Jakarta Post on the sidelines of a rally at the city police headquarters on Sunday.
The Peaceful Action for Megawati demonstration started at 9 a.m. when the demonstrators marched down the city's main street of Jl. Slamet Riyadi, waving red and black banners and posters. They also staged orations.
The peak of action occurred at 11 a.m. when the demonstrators blew their vehicle horns and let go of 11,000 red helium-filled balloons, marking their wish for Megawati to become the country's fourth president.
PDI Perjuangan won first place in the June 7 election with 33.74 percent of the vote and secured 154 legislative seats in the House of Representatives (DPR).
Some people have expressed doubt that Megawati could secure the country's number-one position as she has to compete with two strong contenders, namely her long-time ally Abdurrahman Wahid, also known as Gus Dur, the chairman of the country's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama, and incumbent President B.J. Habibie.
"But we believe that she can make it. And she has to," Willy said.
Continuing support for Megawati was displayed by some 1,500 supporters in a rally at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta on Sunday.
The supporters, mostly from the People's Front of Devoted Supporters of Megawati (BRPSM), said their street rally was meant to pressure the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) legislators to elect a president which represents the people's aspirations.
"We go down the streets to press MPR legislators to choose the people's most wanted president, namely Megawati," Irwan Setiawan, the rally coordinator, said.
Members of the 700-strong MPR will assemble in a plenary meeting next Wednesday to elect the country's new president and to endorse the State Policy Guidelines (GBHN).
The supporters, who arrived at the traffic circle at about 3 p.m. in some 50 minibuses, were mostly from Kemayoran in Central Jakarta. Red dominated the crowd as most protesters wore red clothing decorated with Megawati photos and party symbols.
They walked around the traffic circle, unfurling banners and posters, while supporting Megawati as the next president.
"Revolution until we die!" they shouted. "Long live Mega!" they repeatedly yelled.
Similarly, some 2,000 supporters of PDI Perjuangan and the National Awakening Party (PKB) held a joint prayer to support Megawati's presidential bid at Kridosono stadium in Yogyakarta on Sunday.
Support for Megawati also came from the alumni of the Indonesian Nationalist Students Movement (GMNI) in Semarang, Central Java.
Also in Semarang, activists of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) Muslim Organization's youth wing, Ansor, expressed their support for NU chairman Abdurrahman Wahid's presidential bid.
The group pledged to deploy 750,000 Banser (task force members), to secure the presidential election.
"We need Gus Dur to lead and unite this country. He is acceptable by almost all the elements of society in this nation," Niam Salim, chairman of Ansor's Central Java chapter, said.
Hussein Umar of the Collective Forum of Islamic Mass Organizations called on all political groups to exercise constitutional measures in pursuing political interests, including the upcoming presidential election.
"Let our representatives in the MPR elect the president," he said, adding that the bid would be an example of law enforcement.
The forum is an umbrella for 17 Islamic's Mass Organizations, including the Cooperation Board of Islamic Schools of Indonesia, National Forum for Islamic Preachers, Betawi Community, Forum for Islamic Community Unity and Islamic Youth Movement.
The activists arrived at the city police headquarters on Jl. Sudirman in Central Jakarta after staging a mass gathering at Al Azhar Mosque in South Jakarta.
The activists, mostly wearing Islamic clothing, chanted "Allah the Great!" and sang Shalawat (prayers adoring God the Almighty) on the way to the headquarters. Dozens of mothers and children also joined the rally.
City police chief Maj. Gen. Noegroho Djajoesman welcomed the Muslim activists' measure.
"We cannot guarantee the safety of Jakartans, except ... there are no bad intentions among us ... there are no certain parties forcing their interests ...," he told the protesters.
Noegroho said the police would issue a decree that will ban mass protests at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle.
"The traffic circle is the capital's main thoroughfare. We are also worried of possible clashes between different groups of protesters," he said, adding that the decree would be effective from Monday.
A plea for a peaceful situation was also aired by some 2,000 supporters of the Justice Party (PK) in Yogyakarta, who called for all people to restrain themselves and avoid conflict.
Separately, city police spokesman Lt.Col. Zainuri Lubis said on Sunday that noted soothsayer Ki Gendeng Pamungkas, was declared a suspect in last week's street protest.
"He was arrested on charges of distributing leaflets to provoke people during the two-day clash last week," he said on the sidelines of the Collective Forum rally.
Ki Gendeng was arrested on Friday together with Wisnu Sakti Buana, the son of PDI Perjuangan East Java chapter chairman Sutjipto. Seventy-nine people were arrested during the two-day clash, including Gendeng and 33 PDI Perjuangan members from East Java. (01/04/44/har/asa/edt)