Upset orangutan upsets campaign

Upset orangutan upsets campaign

PURWOKERTO, Central Java: A stressed orangutan sporting an
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) cap
threw a campaign event into disarray here over the weekend.

Thousands of the party's supporters were whiling away the
afternoon dancing to dangdut music on a soccer field when the
animal darted across the field and climbed up a tree, proceeding
to shake the electrical wires running through it.

Police came to the scene when the orangutan's owner, Ardjo,
40, was unable to recapture the animal. Ardjo said the orangutan
was not used to the loud music and large crowd.

Banyumas Police chief Lt. Col. Jhonny H. Hutauruk, who fielded
20 officers to handle the frightened primate, threatened to shoot
the animal with a tranquilizer dart unless Ardjo could recapture
his pet in 30 minutes.

Fortunately, no shooting took place once the orangutan climbed
down from the tree when Ardjo offered it two bananas.

However, its hijinks caused an end to the festivities when
most of the supporters left the field early. (45)