Vaudine England, Bandung – The leafy avenues of West Java's capital are host to the green, white, yellow and red flags of the forthcoming multiparty elections.
But, as elsewhere, street rallies are dominated by the red and black colours of Megawati Sukarnoputri's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-Perjuangan).
Herein may lie the root of unrest as soon as Monday's election results unfold, according to bright, dedicated student volunteers at the Independent Committee for Election Monitoring (KIPP) office in Bandung.
"The main problem is if PDI-Perjuangan does not get the result it expects," said Ahmad. "Big rallies do not necessarily mean big votes."
"We're afraid riots will come after the election; more conflict, violence and fighting between parties, if people cannot accept the results as free and fair," added his colleague, A. Airino Thamrin, at KIPP's office.
PDI-Perjuangan rallies have created the majority of problems in Bandung – aside from the money politics of the ruling Golkar party – as they have usually ended in attacks on Golkar offices and property.
One child, Anum Sidik, 13, is still missing a week after he was persuaded to join a PDI-Perjuangan rally as he stood on a main street in Bandung. His parents are now posting reports in the local newspaper, Pikiran Rakyat, having been told by PDI-Perjuangan staff that they cannot be held responsible for the child's "spontaneity".
"Until now, there has been no significant response from PDI-Perjuangan about the missing boy," said Mr Ahmad. "Such things show the party's lack of control over supporters."
Recent surveys conducted in West Java – the largest province in terms of electoral potential – show that it is still a "pro-status quo" area.
One recent survey concluded that Golkar would win 22 per cent of the West Java vote, PDI-Perjuangan 19 per cent, and the PPP (United Development Party) about 14 per cent.
Such a result would contradict the street atmosphere of pro-Megawati mass hysteria. But observers point out that many of those taking part in rallies are too young to vote or are simply hired crowds provided by enterprising local entrepreneurs.
Bandung is a university town still scattered with delightful Dutch-era art deco architecture. It is also West Java's military command centre and home to two elite military training colleges.
"There is still intimidation from the bureaucracy here," said Mr Ahmad at KIPP. "Many staff feel they have to follow their bosses and still vote Golkar. And many people think reformasi [reform] would be counter-productive for them."
KIPP volunteers and members of the Rector's Forum (the university-based monitoring network) are ready to provide detailed monitoring of voting and vote-counting at most polling booths in the province, including the special booths provided for blind voters.
Tomorrow, they will be joined by a group of European poll monitors led by John Gwyn Morgan. "We will monitor at the kelurahan [sub-district] level," said Mr Ahmad. "Maybe we don't have enough volunteers to cover each polling station, but we have built a system of cross-checks."