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Democrats, PKS set to rock Jakarta

Jakarta should prepare for traffic jams Friday as hundreds of thousands of Democratic Party and Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) supporters will gather for election rallies across the capital in events billed as the largest so far

Alfian and Dicky Christanto (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Fri, March 20, 2009

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Democrats, PKS set to rock Jakarta

Jakarta should prepare for traffic jams Friday as hundreds of thousands of Democratic Party and Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) supporters will gather for election rallies across the capital in events billed as the largest so far.

Top figures from the two parties have confirmed they will attend the rallies, boosting the party profile as they strive to dominate the elections once more as they did in 2004. PKS and the Democrats won the most House of Representatives seats in Jakarta electoral districts five years ago.

The presence of the Democratic Party's chief patron President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at a rally in Bung Karno stadium in Central Jakarta is expected to be the highlight of the day.

A spokesman for the party, Brahmana, said around 100,000 people would be attending the party's first public rally of the campaign season.

"President Yudhoyono himself is scheduled to deliver a speech at the campaign, along with top party officials such as chairman Hadi Utomo and secretary general Marzuki Alie," Brahmana said Thursday.

Popular boy bands Ungu, Andra and the Backbone and the Changcuters will entertain the crowd and act as an incentive for young people to join the rally.

"Most likely traffic jams will be unavoidable, but we will work with city police to minimize the congestion," Brahmana said.

Extra security measures will be made to ensure the safety of the President. National Police Spokesman Insp. Gen. Abubakar Nataprawira said police would coordinate with the presidential security detail.

Instead of holding a massive rally, PKS will kick off its first public campaign in Jakarta through a door-to-door activity which will involve 100,000 party supporters.

"PKS wants to educate voters through this door-to-door program. During the visit, our legislative candidates and members will explain many aspects of the election to voters , including how to cast a vote under the new regulation. We will also explain our party platform," PKS spokesman Muhammad Razikun said

PKS has been promoting its door-to-door program in the last few months. The program aims to secure a significant number of votes in Jakarta.

Razikun said the party would commence its campaign in five areas across Jakarta simultaneously later in the day.

The PKS rallies will take place in Johar Baru Sports Hall in Central Jakarta, North Jakarta Youth Center, Blok S soccer field in South Jakarta, Wika parking lot in East Jakarta and Grogol Sports Hall in West Jakarta.

Razikun said prominent PKS figures, such as president Tifatul Sembiring and People's Consultative Assembly Speaker Hidayat Nur Wahid, would attend the rallies

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