Third campaign day peaceful in Jakarta
JAKARTA (JP): The third day of campaigning passed smoothly on Friday, with no single party dominating the city's streets.
Some lesser known parties avoided staging large rallies and instead distributed flowers, sparing city residents the ordeal of endless traffic jams.
Activities in the commercial districts of Glodok in West Jakarta, and Senen and Jl. Gunung Sahari in Central Jakarta continued as usual.
At least 2,000 supporters of the National Awakening Party (PKB), wearing the party's white and green t-shirts, flocked to the Tugu soccer field in Koja, North Jakarta.
The party's founder, Abdurrahman Wahid, who was due to deliver a speech, failed to appear at the rally. His supporters were instead forced to make do with listening to a recording of Abdurrahman's political views before the party's campaign was officially kicked off.
The party's Koja chief, Muchid R., told supporters that the PKB would protect all the country's ethnic groups.
"The narrow-eyed, the wide-eyed, the black-skinned, the white- skinned -- all will be protected if the PKB wins the election," Muchid said.
Muchid reiterated that the party was the only party for nahdliyin, the name given to members of the 30 million-strong Nahdlatul Ulama Muslim organization chaired by Abdurrahman. A number of parties have been founded by NU executives.
"We now have our own party," Muchid said. "Do not choose a party which fought in previous elections," he added.
In 1984, the NU announced it was returning to its 1926 principal of non-involvement in politics, leaving political choices to individual members. Abdurrahman and other NU leaders have recently been criticized for urging members to choose the PKB.
Also on Friday, the Justice and Unity Party (PKP) campaigned at Pademangan and Kelapa Gading in North Jakarta.
During his speech, PKP chairman Edi Sudradjat, a former minister of defense and Golkar executive, criticized his former party for failing to provide the people with basic needs like staple food and equality before the law.
"Don't choose parties which support the status quo," he told 1,000 supporters.
The crowds at Bermis soccer field in Kelapa Gading were entertained by a dangdut music performance, a debus traditional show and displays of pencak silat, a traditional martial art.
When asked about the possibility of a coalition with other parties, Edi said the PKP would only ally itself with parties campaigning on a "nationalistic" platform.
"We could have a coalition with parties like the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the National Awakening Party (PKB), MKGR party and the Independence Vanguards Party," he said.
Campaigning on Friday also took in the All-Indonesian Workers Solidarity Party (PSPSI), the Indonesian Nation's National Party (PNBI), the Indonesian Unity in Diversity Party (PBI), the Suni Party, the National Democrats Party (PND), the Indonesian Muslim Party (PUMI) and the Indonesian Workers' Party (PPI).
Not all contestants held mass gatherings, some, including the PBI, PNBI and PSPSI, distributed flowers and brochures.
PBI supporters handed out flowers and brochures on Jl. Fatmawati in South Jakarta and in nearby housing complexes and malls.
"We avoided a mass gathering because we did not want to risk provoking clashes with rival supporters," PBI chairman Daniel Abbas said.
The chairman of the PSPSI's Central Jakarta branch, David Irdawin Bahrul, said the party sent out 300 cadres to paste posters in public places around Pademangan in North Jakarta and Cempaka Putih and Jl. Matraman in East Jakarta.(ind/jun)