Top politicians choose remote areas to finalize campaigns

Top politicians choose remote areas to finalize campaigns

JAKARTA (JP): Abdurrahman Wahid spent the last day of
campaigning on Friday in the North Sulawesi capital of Manado,
Amien Rais barnstormed West Java towns and Hamzah Haz met
supporters in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara.

The respective chairmen of National Awakening Party (PKB), the
National Mandate Party (PAN) and the United Development Party
(PPP) discussed with their supporters a host of issues, including
separatism and the reportedly renewed confrontation between
Muslim and nationalist-secular powers.

Chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) Megawati Soekarnoputri spent her day at home, friends
said, resting after touring the capital during an impressive show
off force by party supporters on Thursday.

In his speech in Manado, Abdurrahman dismissed concern about
some groups' quest for independence in Aceh, Irian Jaya and
Maluku. "But it's only the act of a handful of people," he said
as quoted by Antara. "We need to be patient, we need not hate
them."

Abdurrahman, better known as Gus Dur, said he did not wish to
see Indonesia as an Islamic state, but a nationalist one. "So do
not turn religions into political vehicles."

He promised that if PKB or PDI Perjuangan won the elections,
regions would have greater autonomy and could pick their own
governors.

Amien Rais said in Bandung, the capital of West Java, his
party refused to establish a stembus akoord (extra vote-sharing
deal) with other parties in order to avoid "polarization" in the
political scene.

Before continuing his trip to Cileunyi town, Amien expressed
confidence that PAN would win the elections. But he was also
concerned because of the emergence of political blocs, such as
secular powers against religious bloc.

"If we allow this old pattern to reemerge, we'd be divided
again, and we'd lose the momentum created by the reform
movement," he said.

"The way I see it, we only have two options. (The first is)
joining the status quo force, which corrupts, abuses human
rights, and sells out our natural resources to foreign capitals,
just the New Order regime did," he said.

"The second option is to fight for reform, which can be based
on Islamic, nationalist powers and other patriotic forces, which
will be very strong if they stand united," he said.

At Gunungsari stadium in West Lombok, Hamzah Haz expressed his
readiness to become president. "If the Indonesian people,
especially the Muslims, wish it, I say Bismillah (in the name of
Allah) I am ready to be nominated."

In Bogor, West Java, all parties abided by the local election
committee ruling that no more party campaign was allowed on
Friday. The streets and alleys of the hilly town became
significantly quieter after days of noisy rallies.

Meanwhile, in Jakarta, General Elections Commission (KPU)
chairman Rudini revealed that only one vote-sharing deal had been
reported to his office despite the expiration of the deadline
previously agreed upon.

The submitted vote-sharing deal, known as stembus akoord which
enables parties to apportion any extra votes among them, was the
one signed by eight Muslim parties on Sunday.

They are the Justice Party (PK), the Crescent Star Party
(PBB), the United Development Party (PPP), the Muslim Community
Awakening Party (PKU), the Nahdlatul Ummat Party (PNU), the
Islamic Community Party (PUI), the Indonesian Masyumi Islamic
Political Party (PPIM) and the Indonesian Syarikat Islam Party
-1905 (PSII-1905).

The deadline for the submission of the vote-sharing deals was
actually seven days before voting day, but the commission had
extended it to Friday.

None of the major parties -- PAN, PKB, PDI Perjuangan -- had
announced their partners for the deal. They had been reported
earlier to be involved in an ongoing negotiation with the Justice
and Unity Party (PKP).

PKB leader Alwi Shihab said it was likely there would be no
such deal at all "because we have yet to iron out differences.

"I think PKB can win without having to commit itself to any
agreements with other parties," he said.

Rudini also revealed PDI Perjuangan committed among the most
serious offenses during campaign.

"I saw them waving the flags of such countries as the U.S. and
France. Some party supporters even flashed their private parts
during the rallies," he said. (24/29/edt/swe)