APSN Banner

Main Muslim party issues election threat

Source
South China Morning Post - January 15, 1997

Agence France-Presse in Jakarta - The main Muslim political party has threatened to withdraw from this year's general election, saying campaign rules unfairly favour President Suharto's ruling Golkar party.

"If we cannot fulfill the requirements, then we won't participate in the elections," said Tosari Wijaya, general secretary of the United Development Party (PPP), the Kompas Daily reported yesterday.

Mr Wijaya was quoted as saying his Muslim-led party's limited budget would make it impossible to follow the tight government-set campaign schedule.

"Do not blame the PPP if we are unable to take part in the campaign," he said.

The PPP is one of three political parties recognised by the Government. Golkar and the Indonesian Democracy Party are the others.

The campaign schedule obliges the three parties to campaign in designated areas, sometimes in two towns on the same day.

The 27-day campaign will start in late April and end five days before the May 29 election day.

"We do not have the funds... how can we book the flights, hotels?" Mr Wijaya said. "It's different with Golkar, they already have governors or heads of districts in all areas [to campaign]."

He said PPP executives had to campaign in North Sumatra one day then in South Kalimantan, almost 2,000 kilometres away, the next day.

Mr Wijaya also said the campaign schedule for his party seemed to be erratic, with some periods over-booked and others vacant.

"It seems that it was made in such a way so that we are unable to fulfill the whole schedule," he said.

Last week PPP deputy chairman Yusuf Syakir criticised requirements that the Government check all television campaign material before broadcasting.

"How could a political campaign dialogue use a script? If we use scripts it will be like a TV soap opera," Mr Syakir said.

PPP members in the Central Java town of Solo last week daubed white paint over the previously yellow pavements and trees surrounding prominent public buildings, including the city's premier mosque and the traditional palace.

Yellow is Golkar's colour.

PPP's Solo chairman Mudrick Sangidu said he chose white, not PPP's green, for neutrality, to counter the local government's "yellowisation".

Solo Mayor Imam Sutopo said unless the PPP repainted the pavements and trees yellow the branch would face legal action.

The three recognised parties will compete in the elections for 425 seats in the 500-seat Parliament.

Country