Third campaign day peaceful in Jakarta

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)