Violations mark 1st day

BANDUNG: The first day of campaigning was colored by various violations, with parties failing to meet their campaign schedules. Six parties were scheduled to campaign on Wednesday, but it turned out that street rallies also involved supporters of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the United Development Party (PPP), the National Awakening Party (PKB) and a number of other parties.

Civilian security volunteers of PDI Perjuangan intervened and managed to prevent supporters from inciting trouble, particularly when they passed the Golkar chapter office.

In Tangerang, also in West Java, shops were closed and traffic was fairly sparse. The trauma of the May 1998 riots were far from forgotten. Robinson Plaza, though spared last year from looting and burning, has erected a high wall and an iron gate at its back entrance. (43/41)