Mafoot Simon – The sense of anxiety is palpable as six men try to stay calm. After all, they are in their party leader's house to complain about another party official.
For almost three hours, they try to convince Mr Haji Juwanto, head of the Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P) here, that the party should take action.
Holding the official complaint letter, Mr Haji, 51, tells them he will raise the matter at a higher level but then proceeds to lecture them on national politics.
Every nomination, he says, is decided by the PDI-P's national boss, President Megawati Sukarnoputri – framed in a picture with her father, first president Sukarno, on the wall.
There is a bigger consideration at the national level and all should have faith in that decision, the local leader says, recounting how his branch nominated him to stand for the national parliament but the party's central committee decided he should contest the regional parliament.
Next month's legislative polls will elect members of the national parliament, the regional parliament for city and regency and the regional parliament for the provinces from among 24 political parties.
Members of the Regional Representatives Council, comprising non-partisan individuals in the constituencies, also will be chosen.
Mr Haji's loyalty to Ms Megawati is absolute. He proudly displays several pictures of the President and Mr Sukarno in his house.
Only once during the meeting does he hint that enough is enough when he tells of how another party leader threatened to quit and join a rival party. "'Go ahead', I told him," he said.
Later, Mr Haji, whose house in this village just outside Yogyakarta is only slightly bigger than a five-room flat, tells The Straits Times why he did not give in to the demand – the complaint was one man's, the leader of the visiting party.
And he was not an ordinary disgruntled party cadre. The party had nominated him for the election scheduled for April 5 but put him third on the ticket, explains Mr Haji.
"He should actually be thankful," said Mr Haji, a veteran of grassroots politics who was an activist during his student days.
"Legislative candidates should have a macro view of politics and the need to adapt strategy to changing political situations." At least the legislative candidate who lodged his complaint with Mr Haji decided to do it personally. Many others refer their complaints to the Panwaslu, an independent watchdog comprising individuals from various sectors, including the media, which ensures that election rules are not breached.
Some are not happy because the nominated candidates are outsiders with no grassroots work in the area.
"We consider these complaints as internal party matter and refer such complaints to the parties," said Panwaslu member Agus Triyatno, 36.