Hasil Pemilihan Umum Tahun 1987 di tingkat Provinsi dengan perbatasan provinsi yang disesuaikan dengan Tahun 2008
Kajian
On the streets during the 1992 Elections 1992-06-01 The “campaign” period in the final weeks before the 1992 elections were a most interesting
period of time. I made the most of it and decided to get among the massive crowds roaming
about the streets. I hope the following impressions give some idea of what it was like.
The first point to note was that each party was only able to “campaign” on separate days. This
was done to stop the massive crowds of party supporters and hangers-on from running into each
other. There was more than the usual fear of violence should such a meeting ever take place.
My experiences amongst these crowds suggest this fear was not misplaced. While each region
made its own schedule for each party taking turns, the key principle was one party per day.
These massive street processions, hundreds of thousands of people roaming about the major
streets screaming and chanting the party themes and showing the correct party finger signs, were
quite joyous.
I recall on the last Friday of the campaign, 5 June, was the Islamic party, PPP's, turn to
campaign. One of the highlights of the day's campaign was a major get together in the Eastern
car park of the Senayan sports complex. I decided to join the crowd. There were tens of
thousands of party supporters all decked out in the green colour of the party. People were
crowding atop parked buses and trucks screaming the relevant slogans, usually Allah Akbar
(God is Great). As I walked passed one truck load of young blokes one looked down at me and
screamed Allah Akbar! Hiduplah bule! (God is Great! Long live the white skin!) He, me and the
whole truck load all burst out laughing. Other trucks had big pre-call to pray drums which added
to the noise and buzz of the crowd.
The next day, Saturday, was Golkar's last day to campaign. Again the big crowds were out –
today all decked in this party's yellow colours. Actually I suspect it was often the same people
out and about on each party's campaign trails! Many said they went out each day just for the
free T-shirts and for something to do. Small traders usually made a good income as the
screaming and chanting crowds get thirsty. They also made a bit more by selling party “stuff” –
ribbons, badges, stickers etc.
The final day was for the reds of PDI. This Sunday was billed as being the day Jakarta would
become an ocean of red (lautan merah). It would be fair to say we were not disappointed. I
recall standing about the Brawijaya Roundabout in Kebayoran Baru watching trucks and buses
stuffed to overflowing with people. I also recall seeing a procession of scantily clad transvestites
atop a few trucks dancing and calling for support for the party. Again flashing the appropriate
finger gestures were exchanged among those on the road and those travelling.
From evening of Sunday all went silent. Campaigning was over. By Monday morning the
streets, lamp posts and telephone poles were bare of all campaign stuff and all banners had been removed with extraordinary discipline and accuracy. During the night all the election stuff was
removed by supporters. These notes were put together in June 2008: some 16 years after the events of the 1992 elections. The notes
represents my clearest recollections and impressions of the time.
