Patrick Walters, Jakarta – The Megawati bandwagon took over central Jakarta yesterday as an estimated million-strong crowd joined in the biggest political rally yet seen during Indonesia's 17-day election campaign.
Tens of thousands of red-flag-waving supporters of Megawati Sukarnoputri's Indonesian Democratic Party for Struggle (PDI-P) jammed the roundabout surrounding the city's freedom monument, as traffic in downturn Jakarta came to a standstill.
As giant-sized angry bulls, the PDI-P's emblem, were towed around the city, red-clad youths danced deliriously to drum-beats on top of buses and trucks in the party's final day of campaigning in the capital.
The freedom monument was draped in long, blood-red PDI-P banners while cloth slogans on the nearby Hotel Indonesia urged the huge but good-humoured throng not to resort to violence.
The party headed by Ms Megawati, the eldest daughter of Indonesia's founding president Sukarno, remains favoured to win most seats in the June 7 elections with Ms Megawati given a strong chance of becoming Indonesia's fourth president.
In her final Jakarta campaign rally, held at Kemayoran in North Jakarta, she urged her supporters not to be bought by other political parties, telling them PDI-P was within striking distance of victory.
"We have been oppressed for many, many years. We have been pushed aside for many, many years but now we can win. Do not sell your vote! United we are strong. Divided we fall," she said.
"If the election is fair Megawati will be president," said Dody, a hotel employee observing yesterday's rally. "But Golkar (the ruling government-backed party) can stop PDI-P from winning. Golkar is still a very dangerous party."
PDI-P strategists remain optimistic. "We think realistically we can win at least 40 per cent of the 462 parliamentary seats to be contested next week," Laksamana Sukardi, one of Ms Megawati's closest advisers, told The Australian yesterday.
This would mean the PDI-P would have at least 180 seats in the People's Representative Assembly and allow it to govern with the support of just one other coalition partner, such as Abdurrahman Wahid's National Awakening Party, as well as the military who control a block of 38 uncontested seats in the 500-seat assembly.
Golkar, which will enjoy a final day of campaigning today, has attracted only muted support in Jakarta, conducting no big street rallies. But party spokesmen claim they will win up to 40 per cent of the vote.
A call earlier this week by the Indonesian Council of Ulemas (Muslim elders) for Muslims to vote for Islamic parties has been firmly rejected by the major political parties.
Amien Rais, the leader of Partai Amanat Nasional, said such a call could jeopardise the country's future.
"If the polarisation crystallises all elements of society into two opposing forces – the Islamic power on one side and the nationalist-secular camp on the other – it could be very dangerous," Mr Rais said.
"There are only two choices. One is to leave Suharto and all remnants of his regime behind, and the second is to move towards a more democratic Indonesia."