INDONESIA: Poor farmers protest

Hundreds of poor farmers from West Java belonging to the Party of United People's Opposition (Popor) demonstrated outside the electoral commission on September 25. The farmers were protesting the commission's decision to give in to pressure from President Megawati Sukarnoputri to close electoral registration on October 9. Parties with minimal financial resources have demanded more time to gather the documentation required under the electoral law, which includes handing over between 75,000 and 180,000 membership cards carrying passport photos. Wealthy parties are simply buying the documentation needed, or do not have to submit documentation because they already have members of parliament.

From Green Left Weekly, October 1, 2003.

Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

From GLW issue 556