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Gubernatorial candidates bring city to standstill

Source
Jakarta Post - August 4, 2007

Jakarta – Supporters of Jakarta's two governor candidates took to the streets of the capital Friday in all manner of vehicles, bringing much of the city to a virtual standstill on the final day of campaigning.

As supporters of Adang Daradjatun and running mate Dani Anwar, and Fauzi Bowo and his running mate Prijanto paraded through the city in colorfully decorated cars, trucks, buses and motorcycles, Jakarta took on a festive air.

Though for those not involved in the campaigns who became stuck in the traffic, the mood was slightly more sour.

Adang's supporters emerged from mosques throughout the city after Friday prayers and began converging on the East Parking Lot of the Senayan stadium complex in Central Jakarta, where the candidate's rally was being held.

Supporters of Fauzi Bowo rallied at the Sumantri Brojonegoro Sports Hall in South Jakarta, before spreading out across the capital as the rally ended.

There were no reports of clashes between supporters, and when opposing convoys did converge everyone maintained the party mood.

"We are here to celebrate our direct gubernatorial election, so let's enjoy it together," a young man wearing an Adang-Dani T-shirt shouted from the top of a bus to some Fauzi supporters in front of Menteng Pulo Cemetery in Central Jakarta.

A group of Fauzi backers from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) were seen passing out fliers explaining the candidate's policies to passing motorists in Kuningan, South Jakarta.

Teenage supporters of both candidates sang campaign songs and shouted slogans from the top of buses and the backs of trucks.

Heavy traffic congestion was reported all the way from Kampung Melayu in East Jakarta to Jl. Sudirman in Central Jakarta.

As the streets cleared late in the afternoon, a trail of crumpled up fliers and empty water bottles marked the passage of the convoys.

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