>From South China Morning Post, 27/5/99
Indonesia
Rent-a-crowd rally has
money politics down to a
'T'
JENNY GRANT in Jakarta
Golkar will be hoping its election day support will
prove more steadfast than that offered by the motley crew bussed in
yesterday for its first campaign rally, held in a dirty industrial
wasteland in north Jakarta.
The 800 supporters brought in by local Golkar officials
hurriedly pulled bright yellow party T-shirts over their clothes. This
was a rent-a-crowd at best.
Pahing, 19, looked bored sitting at the back of the
empty field waiting for the music to start. He was paid 20,000 rupiah
(HK$20) to come.
"Yesterday was much better. I joined in the Megawati
rally, but I wasn't paid for that," said Pahing, who has been
unemployed for a year.
Middle-aged housewives from a small neighbourhood in
Johor Baru fought over a list to be given to the wife of the local
Golkar candidate.
"Neti, Epon, Pipien, Muriati, don't forget Dede. Have
we forgotten anyone?" asked Ibu Alima. The list was proof of who turned
up at the rally, later ensuring a lunch box, free T-shirt and payment
for the day.
Ms Alima said her group would immediately take off the
yellow T-shirts they were given once they left the field,fearing
violence from the public.
Even the entertainers felt it was an imperfect day.
Maria, 34, who gyrated in front of the mostly male crowd in a lime
green blouse and tight pants, complained: "Last campaign I made 400,000
rupiah per show. Now I won't get anywhere near that."
Dancing to Maria's songs was Iman, 23. He admitted that
five days ago he was among those who attacked a group of Golkar floats
on the opening day of
campaigning.
Party chairman Akbar Tanjung told the crowd his party
did not engage in money politics. There was no more corruption in his
new Golkar, he said.
In the back row of the rally, Ms Alima clutched her
handbag and laughed quietly.
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