Dadan Kuswaraharja, Jakarta – The People’s Democratic Party is calling on the public not to use their right to vote or golput (boycott) in the second round of the presidential elections.

The PRD believes that Democratic Party candidate Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) and incumbent President Megawati Sukarnoputri, who according the preliminary vote count have passed the first round, have no concrete solutions to pull the country out of crisis.

This was related to journalists by PRD general chairperson Yusuf Lakaseng at a press conference at the offices of the Central Leadership Committee of the PRD in West Tebet, South Jakarta, on Monday July 12.

“There is not one presidential candidate who is going on to the second round who has any concrete solutions which are fair, methodical, modern or mass orientated to resolved the crises [threatening] ordinary people’s quality of life which is a consequence of neoliberal imperialism’s attacks”, said Lakaseng.

As well has not having any concrete program, the presidential candidates which have passed the first round are also pro-military. The PRD is disappointed with the campaign against military presidential candidates which was launched by a number of non-government and youth organisations which only succeeded in isolating former armed forces chief Wiranto but was not able to prevent SBY from winning. In reality, SBY and Wiranto both have the same military background.

“There is absolutely no way for the people to escape from the threat of militarism and the crisis of prosperity by supporting SBY. Similarly there is no point in supporting Mega who even up until now has been a coward [and has failed] to abolish militarism”, asserted Lakaseng. (iy)

[Translated by James Balowski.]