Peaceful Campaign to Serve as Political Education

KOMPAS/WISNU WIDIANTORO

2019 presidential election candidate pairs Joko Widodo-Ma\'ruf Amin and Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno together political party leaders, legislative candidates and the chairman of the General Election Commission (KPU), Arief Budiman, and chairman of the Indonesian Election Supervisory Board Abhan release pigeons at the Declaration of the Peaceful General Election at the National Monument complex in Jakarta on Sunday, Sept 23, 2018. During the event, participants declared a campaign against the politicization of ethnicity, religion, tribal and inter-group (SARA) affiliations, as well as against money politics and the spreading of hoaxes.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – In the next seven months, participants of the 2019 general election will have a competition of visions, missions and programs in the hope of convincing the public to vote for them. Therefore, participants of both the legislative and presidential elections, which will be held simultaneously next year, have committed to providing the public with a political education through holding peaceful elections.

The General Elections Commission (KPU) held the 2019 Simultaneous General Elections Peaceful Campaign Declaration at the National Monument (Monas) square in Jakarta on Sunday morning. At the event, presidential and vice presidential hopefuls and legislative candidates wore traditional costumes and joined in a parade along Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat from Monas’ west gate to its south gate.

KPU chair Arief Budiman, Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu) chair Abhan, Election Organization Ethics Council (DKPP) chair Harjono, presidential candidates Joko “Jokiwi” Widodo and Prabowo Subianto, VP candidates Ma’ruf Amin and Sandiaga Uno and political party leaders and supporters joined in the parade. Locals lined up on the roadside to see the festivities.

Traditional and pop music from the Genta Bahana Samudra marching band accompanied the parade. Supporters were seen bringing various campaign props, including political party banners, presidential campaign banners and gold-colored Garuda bird costumes.

“This peaceful campaign starts today and will end on April 13, 2019. This event aims to reaffirm the commitment of general election participants to the importance of ensuring the unity of the Republic of Indonesia on the basis of Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution,” Arief said.

Furthermore, Arief said that he hoped all election participants would carry out peaceful and democratic campaigns that educated the public. This is in line with the event’s theme, “Anti-SARA and Anti-Hoax Campaign for the sake of Voters’ Sovereignty and National Strength”. SARA refers to ethnic, religious, racial and intergroup sentiments.

DPD candidates

Apart from the two presidential election pairs, the peaceful campaign declaration was also attended by candidates for the Regional Representatives Council (DPD). In line with the theme of Indonesian traditional clothes set out by the KPU, election participants wore various traditional clothes in the event.

President Jokowi was seen wearing a Balinese costume, complete with the udeng headwear and a gold-colored cloth on his waist. Ma’ruf Amin, who was sitting beside Jokowi, wore a grey tuxedo and pants with a sarong.

Prabowo wore a Javanese costume, including a crème-colored cloth, black pants, a black blangkon headpiece and a batik cloth over his waist. Sandiaga wore a Betawi costume.

During the occasion, Jokowi and Prabowo walked side by side, holding hands. They were seen chatting warmly with each other.

The peaceful campaign declaration was also attended by House of Representatives Commission II members, Cabinet ministers, Armed Forces (TNI) commander Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto and National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian.

Together, the election participants pledged their commitment to maintaining peace during the election campaign period, in line with prevailing regulations.

At the same time, peaceful campaign declarations were also held in all provinces. Regional election organizers urged legislative candidates and supporters of presidential and VP hopefuls not to use SARA issues in their campaigns, especially on social media.

KPU commissioner Wahyu Setiawan said election participants should be exemplars in showing the people how to maintain a familial and kind atmosphere throughout the campaign period. It is believed such an atmosphere will contribute to a peaceful and democratic election.

The start of the campaign period was marked in various ways, including the installation of campaign props, the distribution of campaign materials, limited meetings, face-to-face meetings and mass media campaigns. Participants of the 2019 election are urged to report their campaign funds transparently.

(E05/JUM/BRO/DIT)