Soerjadi's 'bald devil'

JAKARTA: As the 1997 general election turns into a security nightmare, the authorities face the challenge of dealing with an unexpected force, the "bald devil".

From President Soeharto right down to the common man, the bald devil has been blamed for fouling up the election.

But the devil worked in mysterious ways, said Soerjadi, the government-recognized chief of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI).

He used the term bald devil to describe government officials who were trying to win votes for Golkar through people's stomachs.

He told a rally in Ruteng, East Nusa Tenggara, Thursday that the bald devil would sneak into PDI supporters' homes a few days before the election and encourage them to vote Golkar.

"The bald devil's technique is often very funny. The devil will usually bring 10 kilograms of rice, instant noodles and Rp 10,000 (US$4) for a vote," he said.

If this "seduction" failed, they would try other tricks, such as intimidation. "But don't be afraid. Fight back and, if you can, catch the bald devils and take them to court," he said. (pan)