Sopporters hunt for money in Golkar capaigning

Bambang Nurbianto and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Time is money -- especially that of time-pressed women, as one campaigning political party found out.

Four women were ushered into one of three minivans prepared by Golkar Party campaign organizers in Kembangan subdistrict in West Jakarta on Wednesday. The vehicle was to take them to a campaign site some four kilometers away.

Unlike other campaign participants, the women were not wearing yellow Golkar T-shirts and were told there were none left.

In the van the women wondered out loud how much they would be paid. One of them in tattered clothes said that someone had informed them that the organizers had allocated money for those who took part in campaign rallies.

After a few minutes, one of them piped up, "Where's the money?" The four, including one who was pregnant, then looked for confirmation from the field operators about their payment.

They then left the van, saying no one could give them a satisfactory answer.

"It is better to stay at home if there is no money," one woman grumbled. The minivan, with a capacity of 12 passengers, finally departed for the campaign site with only six people on board.

One of the organizers, who declined to mention his name, denied that funds had been allocated for campaign participants.

But a local, Toni, said it was likely that all campaign participants had received money. The participants, he said, had also taken part in campaigns organized by other parties on previous days.

"They change into T-shirts of different colors every day," Toni said, referring to the colors of T-shirts of political parties.

Campaign organizers also hire "supporters", often including ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers.

Ojek drivers who operate in the vicinity of Harapan Kita Hospital in West Jakarta advertise their services on a sign that reads "Accept campaign orders from any political party."

However, many other people in campaigns of various parties, including Golkar, have also said they are genuine supporters who pay for their own transportation and snacks.

Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) chairman Komaruddin Hidayat complained of the absence of a strong law by which to take action against election violations, such as vote-buying.

Under the Election Law, vote-buying is punishable by a penalty of only two to 12 months in jail and a Rp 10 million fine. One year in jail compared to the possible impact of "money politics" is meaningless, Komaruddin said.