Yellow wallets upset citizens

SEMARANG (JP): The political war of colors in Central Java has reached into citizens' pockets. Wallets are the latest object to fall victim to colors.

Many townspeople are outraged at the latest policy to issue yellow -- government-backed Golkar's color -- wallets for people to keep their identity cards in.

Golkar's rivals, the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) and the United Development Party (PPP), accused the government yesterday of unruly campaigning for Golkar.

Residents who apply for new identity cards or renew their expired ones, reported they received bad treatment or even denied being served if they dared to refuse to buy the yellow wallet.

"The government officials have openly helped Golkar instead of staying neutral," said Haryono, deputy chief of PPP's Semarang chapter.

"Strange, isn't it. Even wallets have to be yellow and for dubious reasons, people are forced to buy them," he added.

The three political organizations have been embroiled in a nasty war in Central Java over what color objects in public places, such as sidewalks, town squares and telegraph poles, should be painted.

In the ancient city of Surakarta, many objects that Golkar painted yellow, including trees, zebra crossings and fences, have been repainted white, or red and white by PDI and PPP activists.

In major streets around Surakarta's town square, many objects have changed color at least six times over the past two months. (har/pan)