"Battle Begins""Three Couple of Candidates take a Peace Picture"
Call it a peaceful campaign but the battle finally begins. Three presidential candidates showed up for the declaration of a peaceful campaign late Wednesday, which was marred with a war of boos from respective supporters. General Elections Commission (KPU) chairman Abdul Hafiz Anshary said in his opening speech the declaration was needed to remind the public that the presidential election should be a “unifying factor" for the nation instead of a “disintegrating” one. “Tomorrow on June 11, we’ll begin the open campaign period. Some say it will be vulnerable to friction and anarchy between supporters of each candidate," he said at the venue at Hotel Bidakara, South Jakarta. "So before we begin, it is better that we witness the candidates pledging against such things happening.” Open campaigning, which means outdoor campaigning, runs from June 11 until July 4, before voting on July 8. Candidate No. 1 Megawati Soekarnoputri, teaming up with Prabowo Subianto, began her speech by criticizing the KPU for moving the beginning of the open campaign period from June 2 to Wednesday. The former president hoped “that all government officials from the central to local level would act impartially and not intervene in the presidential election”. “And I call on all Indonesians to monitor the presidential election carefully and use their right to vote." A monologue by actor Butet Kartaredjasa accompanied her speech. He criticized the current government’s policies, from efforts to fight corruption and the disputed voter’ list to the numerous military aircraft accidents this year. “The fight against corruption efforts should not be discriminatory, whoever they are. Both ministers and ex-ministers should be investigated, instead of being installed as ambassadors,” Butet said, to the laughter of audience. Also hinting at popularity surveys that boosted the position of the incumbent, Butet’s appearance was taken by some as criticism toward Megawati’s rival, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. KPU chairman Anshary later admitted the kicking off ceremony “should not involve hurting anyone’s feelings”. Yudhoyono, candidate No. 2 with former Bank Indonesia governor Boediono, was booed by some of his rivals’ supporters when stepping onto the stage. The chief patron of the Democratic Party, which won the April’s legislative elections, called on Indonesians to exercise their rights in the election and asked other candidates to compete “in a civilized way, healthily and ethically”. “Let’s show the people that we can remain brothers and sisters,” he said as his supporters yelled his campaign slogan, “Lanjutkan!” (continue). Incumbent Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who is paired with former military chief Wiranto, the last pair, reiterated they were the best pair; but Kalla quickly added they would wholeheartedly accept whoever won the election. Echoing Megawati, Kalla also asked those involved in the election — including state officials, security officers, students and the media — to remain impartial and fair. Without failing to disappoint those expecting his unpredictable remarks, Kalla ended his speech with a short poem inserting his slogan: “Bunga seikat/ hati tertarik/ lebih cepat/ lebih baik” (Flowers to win your heart over/ the quicker the better). He received a standing ovation, mainly from his supporters. The three pairs of candidates signed the “election in brotherhood” charter to mark the beginning of the peaceful open campaign period.
Author: Erwida Maulia, The Jakarta Post Indonesia Today
