Rival party edged out by PKB

UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi: There was no contest when the National Awakening Party (PKB), a political organization which claims a huge following, beat dozens of "rivals" in their attempt to gain use of a hall in the Gedong Joeang 45 building here on Sunday.

A horde of PKB supporters started streaming into the building, where they were to attend an indoor assembly, from 10 a.m. local time, a little early considering that guests of a newly married couple had arrived for the scheduled wedding reception.

The campaign rally was slated for 2 p.m.

Being outnumbered and frightened, the bride and groom opted to call off their reception and let the electoral campaign revelers take over the hall.

"I was afraid that something bad would happen if we went on with the party," said Ani, a relative of the bride.

The equalizer came later in the day when another wedding reception forced the cancellation of an indoor assembly planned by the Murba Party on Jl. Laiya. Dozens of journalists who were there to cover the event were amazed to see the rally switched to a party.

It turned out that the wedding reception was in honor of a daughter of one of the party's leaders. (27)