Medan – On April 5 scores of people from the North Sumatra Union for the Politics of the Poor Front (FPPRM-SU) held a protest action at the Mejestik roundabout in the North Sumatra city of Medan opposing the April 9 legislative elections.

Man: Why be confused? Just vote according to your conscience... (badge reads legislative candidate)

Kid: So where’s your conscience Mr?

Man: In... the... p... pawn shop

Khairul Ikhwan, Medan – Some 50 or so students in the North Sumatra city of Medan demonstrated on April 2 against the general elections that will take place on April 9. The group said that students believe that the elections will not bring about change or resolve the problems of the ordinary people.

1st man: From here we can learn about other dams...

2nd man: Aren’t you going wait till it bursts first?

Muhammad Nur Abdurrahman, Makassar – On March 31 the Concern for the Nation Functional Party (PKPB) held an election campaign rally in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar. Speaking before around one thousand sympathisers, PKPB General Chairperson R. Hartono promised the rebirth of former President Suharto’s New Order regime.

Palu – On March 30, activists from the Palu City branch of the Union for the Politics of the Poor (PPRM) in Central Sulawesi encouraged local residents to reject next month’s legislative elections.

Robert, Samarinda – Scores for students from the Mulawarman University in East Kalimantan provincial city of Samarinda demonstrated on March 30 against the 2009 general elections. During the action they destroyed or set fire to posters, banners and other promotional material belonging to legislative candidates.

Kid: It’s not that he’s suffering from withdrawal symptoms cos of being ensnared in a narcotics network... but more because...

1st man: Let’s hope there isn’t any more “ghost voters”!

2nd man: For the sake of democracy!

In the lead up to the April 9 legislative elections, the electoral commission conceded that there were an estimated 5 million or more “ghost” voters still on the electoral role.

The 2009 legislative elections – which are now only 20 days away – are being opposed by labour groups made up of an alliance of organisations that reject the elections because they are part the lies being perpetrated against the public as voters.