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)