Prabowo, Jokowi Break Fast With Yudhoyono in a Gesture of Peace

Jakarta Globe, Jul 20, 2014

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, center, brings the two candidates
 together prior to a prayer at the State Palace in Jakarta on July 20, 2014.
 Prabowo Subianto, left, looks on, and Joko Widodo, right, stands. (EPA
Photo/Adi Weda)

Jakarta. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono invited presidential candidates Prabowo Subianto and Joko Widodo with their respective running mates to a fast-breaking gathering at the State Palace, in a move to cool down the heated situation as the national polling commission prepares to announce the vote count results on Tuesday.

The president told both pairs of candidates to ensure a peaceful and democratic election process, avoiding violence and conflicts that could divide the nation.

He said that were the nation to be divided, it would be very difficult to rebridge the rift and heal wounds from the conflict.

“The price would be very costly to the nation,” he said. “That’s why maintaining a peaceful and democratic election is the responsibility of us all. All of us should work together to make sure the final process of our election ends in peace.”

He cited Palestine and Ukraine as illustrations of the suffering wrought by ruptured nations.

“We see what happens to our brothers in Gaza. It’s a tragedy of humanity that we condemn and want to avoid,” Yudhoyono said, adding that division among Palestinians themselves, as well as Arab nations and the wider Muslim community, had enabled “outsiders” to wreak havoc within.

In Ukraine, Yudhoyono said, division between the people had caused a bloody civil war with countless victims.

He added that the deaths of innocent people aboard the Malaysian Airlines flight shot down over eastern Ukraine on Thursday showed the ripple effect of conflict.

“I have called Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak to express my condolences,” Yudhoyono said.

Indonesian legislative and presidential elections have been largely peaceful, with almost two-thirds of Indonesian voters turned out at polling stations.

The camps of both candidates have praised Yudhoyono’s administration for overseeing a calm and civil election.

“We thank President SBY, the military chief and the National Police chief, and the KPU [General Elections Commission] for this democratic and peaceful election,” said Maruarar Sirait, a member of Joko’s campaign team.

Meanwhile, the military and police announced that they had prepared a joint force of 22,000 personnel around the KPU headquarters in Central Jakarta to secure Tuesday’s final announcement of the results from the July 9 ballot. Throughout Indonesia, the military is deploying 33,000 personnel to secure conflict-prone areas.

National Police Chief Gen. Sutarman said police officers were set to handle any fallout from Tuesday’s announcement.

He called on supporters from both sides not to come to the KPU office because it would increase the potential for a clash.

“We can guarantee to the public that there will be no clashes during the announcement, and we ask them to go about their activities as usual,” he said.

Joko also instructed his supporters not to take to the streets or go to the KPU.

“Just stay home and pray,” he said, adding he would be in his hometown of Solo, Central Java, for the announcement.

While Prabowo said he would respect the official vote count by the KPU, dismissing talk that there would be riots should he lose the election, he nevertheless claimed the election was unfair and not credible — signaling he might take the matter to the Constitutional Court. “It’s tainted,” he said. “We question its legitimacy.”