Lampung paper brings election candidates together<\/p>\n
Oyos Saroso HN, The Jakarta Post\/Bandarlampung<\/p>\n
The Lampung Post editorial room was a lively place as people
\nbustled about setting out snacks. The oldest daily in Lampung was
\npreparing to host a discussion with the candidates of the
\nupcoming Bandarlampung mayoral election.<\/p>\n
When the candidates arrived, they were all seated around a
\nround table with the members of their campaign teams. The seating
\narrangements helped put the candidates on an equal footing and
\nmade them seem less like rivals.<\/p>\n
The discussion, also attended by a number of political
\nobservers, was jointly organized by the Lampung Post and the
\nAfkar Circle -- a discussion group of young intellectuals.<\/p>\n
The mayoral candidates attending the discussion were Eddy
\nSutrisno, nominated by the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle, and Nuril hakim (Democratic Party).<\/p>\n
Also at the event were deputy mayoral candidates, including
\nKuswandi, nominated by the National Mandate Party and the United
\nDevelopment Party, Zamzani Yasin (Nuril Hakim's running mate),
\nTarwo Kurnarno (National Awakening Party and an alliance of
\nsmaller parties) and Zainal Iskandar (Prosperous Justice Party).<\/p>\n
Only the mayoral candidate from the Golkar Party, Sjachrazad
\nZ.P., did not attend the discussion and did not sent a
\nrepresentative in his place.<\/p>\n
Normally competing against each other for votes, the
\ncandidates sat together and generously praised one another. Not a
\nhint of competition. Jokes were told and the audience got caught
\nup in the high spirits. Terms of address like adinda (younger
\nsibling), kakanda (elder sibling) and mas (elder brother) were
\nused freely by the candidates.<\/p>\n
\"Mas (elder brother) Eddy is my senior. We are like family. I
\nam his neighbor and the beloved Mas Eddy is my friend. Mas
\nKuswandi, Pak Tarwo and Pak Zainal are my friends, too. We often
\nsee each other and even dine together,\" Nuril said.<\/p>\n
Nuril's praise elicited a smile from Eddy, an educator in
\nLampung.<\/p>\n
After the mutual flattery the candidates outlined their
\nvisions and platforms, before jointly agreeing to work for a
\npeaceful election and to avoid negative campaigning.<\/p>\n
Five regions in Lampung -- the municipalities of Bandarlampung
\nand Metro, and the regencies of South Lampung, East Lampung and
\nWay Kanan -- will hold direct elections on June 27. Central
\nLampung regency will hold its election in September or October,
\nafter the current regent's term ends in September.<\/p>\n
The Metro mayoral candidates attended an earlier dialog
\norganized by the Lampung Post and the Afkar Circle, and also
\npledged to work for a peaceful election. Metro is a small town
\nabout 150 kilometers north of Bandarlampung with a majority
\nethnic Javanese population.<\/p>\n
This earlier discussion was attended by mayoral candidates
\nLukman Hakim-Djohan, nominated by five parties, including the
\nNational Mandate Party, Zakaria Ahmad-Dariyus (the National
\nAwakening Party and the Prosperous Justice Party), Mozes Herman
\n(the Democratic Party and three smaller parties) and Somad
\nMuryadi-Sukisno Santa (the Golkar Party).<\/p>\n
Many were surprised that the candidates agreed to attend the
\nevent, given the often hostile tone of the election campaign.<\/p>\n
Former Metro mayor Mozes Herman and former Metro deputy mayor
\nLukman Hakim are engaged in a heated rivalry and have verbally
\nslammed each other on several occasions.<\/p>\n
\"Whoever is elected, I am sure he will improve Metro. I cannot
\nsay who is the better candidate. . Whatever the result, it is the
\nchoice of the people,\" Mozes said.<\/p>\n
Zakaria Ahmad said he was pleased with the results of the
\nforum; it gave the candidates the opportunity to sit down
\ntogether.<\/p>\n
\"Although we all live in a small town, we find it hard to
\nmeet, especially to sit down together and talk about Metro's
\nfuture,\" said Zakaria.<\/p>\n
There are 90,782 eligible voters in Metro spread out over five
\ndistricts and 22 villages. Election organizers will set up 328
\npolling stations for the vote.<\/p>\n
The head of the Lampung Post's research department, Heri
\nWardoyo, said these types of forums would be organized regularly
\nto prevent any conflict ahead of and during the elections.<\/p>\n
\"We have not looked for any sponsors for the events. This is
\nour duty to provide a political education for the people,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
A political observer and activist at the Lampung Media Center,
\nJauhari M. Zailani, praised the local media for contributing to a
\nbetter understanding of democracy and helping to prevent
\nviolence.<\/p>\n
\"We could see how the (candidates) gracefully took part in the
\ndiscussion even though they were fiercely competing against each
\nother before,\" said Jauhari.<\/p>\n
He said the General Elections Commission was more involved in
\nadministrative issues, and the media could bridge the gap by
\npromoting fair competition among the candidates.<\/p>\n
\"The KPU has not taken any concrete actions to prevent
\nconflict, while the media has facilitated discussions for the
\ncandidates,\" he said.<\/p>",
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