Public apathetic about PDI-P anniversary
Rita A. Widiadana and Wahyoe Boedhiwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali
Taking a breather from the heated social and political turbulence in the capital city of Jakarta, President Megawati Soekarnoputri is scheduled to join thousands of members of her Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) to celebrate the party's anniversary at Mengwitani soccer field in Badung regency on Sunday.
Around 70,000 members of PDI Perjuangan and 1,000 invitees, including foreign ambassadors and diplomats, are expected to turn up and hear her political speech and her party's stand on national current events.
Dozens of buses and trucks carrying members of PDI Perjuangan from Central Java, East Java and other provinces are already parked at several hotels, homestays and private homes near the Mengwitani area.
A musical and dance performance presented by Guruh Soekarnoputra Production (GSP) artists will enliven the event. Guruh is Megawati's younger brother.
Megawati is scheduled to arrive in Bali on Saturday. She will stay at the Tampaksiring Presidential Palace near the Kintamani resort area in Bangli regency, around 60 kilometers from Denpasar.
In her capacity as president, she will visit Braban village near Tanah Lot in Tabanan to symbolically plant rice seeds before heading to the party function.
A local committee member said on Friday a helicopter would transport the President during her Bali visit.
Compared to PDI Perjuangan's anniversary celebration in Sanur in 1998, the last time such an event was held in Bali, this year's gathering looks to be less glamorous and appears to lack support from the public.
In l998, most of the party's leaders and the local community worked hand in hand to produce flags, banners, T-shirts and other party attributes.
Nyoman Widiarsa, a sculptor in Sukawati, Gianyar, remembered that almost all traders and craftsmen in the Sukawati market donated part of their incomes to buy material to create various PDI Perjuangan attributes. Every member of banjar (traditional Balinese community group) was willing to buy his own T-shirt.
"Many youngsters here dyed their white T-shirts red just to take part in the parade in Sanur," he said. "This time I haven't seen many activities to support the celebration in Mengwitani."
Ni Wayan Cini, a seller of banten, myriad of colorful flowers and other ceremonial tools, at Pasar Badung traditional market in Denpasar, felt the obligation to help her idol Megawati by donating half of her profit to help a PDI Perjuangan post at the market fund its activities.
"But who can spend money other than for food in these difficult times when everything is so expensive? Besides, she (Megawati) is no longer my idol," she said.
Nengah Usdek Maharipa, chairman of the Bali committee, conceded that it was difficult to expect financial help from the public. Many people think that party members in the legislature and the presidency have become extremely rich.
The party's celebration is estimated to cost Rp 1.2 billion. Each of the some 300 PDI Perjuangan provincial and regional legislative members is expected to donate Rp 2 million.
Top government officials affiliated with the party have also been asked to provide financial assistance to help the party procure other necessary equipment such as banners and a sound system.
Around 200 PDI Perjuangan civilian security personnel and hundreds of Pecalang traditional Balinese guards will help some 800 police personnel maintain order during the event.