'Sad handing' campaign

SEMARANG: This year's election campaign is proving to be a nightmare for dozens of the rift-ridden Indonesian Democratic Party in the city and elsewhere in Java.

Supporters of the government-recognized party leadership under Soerjadi have canceled campaigning in many places for fear of attack by loyalists of the dethroned party chief Megawati Soekarnoputri.

In Semarang, Soerjadi supporters held a glad-handing session on the city streets wearing hoods so as not to be recognized by Megawati supporters.

"We were scared... we took off the hoods only after we got back home," said Zeni Alisabana from the Soerjadi camp. (har/pan)