Denpasar, a model of political composure
Denpasar, a model of political composure
I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali
A few weeks ago, in the lead up to the election of Denpasar mayor, a good number of political pundits and security officers warned the public of the possible explosive days ahead.
It was an appropriate warning as clashes have tarnished Balinese politics in the past. Moreover, the participating candidates are from noble houses, which wield great influence over the city's traditional power bases.
Moreover, they are also closely connected to two of the city's most powerful youth organizations, Balinese gangs that control the lucrative, albeit shady, businesses of private security and debt-collecting.
Take for instance Puspayoga, the incumbent mayor and arguably the strongest candidate in the upcoming election. Puspayoga hails from Puri Satria, a house of nobility widely respected by traditional communities in eastern Denpasar.
He is also a popular figure among die-hard supporters of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P). Also, Puspayoga enjoys a warm relationship with the Forum Peduli Denpasar (FPD), a youth organization known to control security at the city's -- in fact the island's -- biggest bus terminal, Ubung.
Meanwhile, Puspayoga's strongest rival, Widiada comes from Puri Peguyangan, an influential house of nobility in the northern suburban area of the city. He is a popular figure among his peers in the Golkar party.
Widiada's running mate, Suma Widana, comes from the influential Puri Pemecutan and, to some extent, was a father figure to the members of the Laskar Bali, arguably the island's most powerful youth organization. Laskar Bali now provides its security services to a large number of night spots in Legian and Seminyak.
"Moreover, it will be our first experience in picking our mayor through a direct election. Such an election is vulnerable to violent clashes at the grass roots," political analyst Chusmeru said.
Fortunately, the warning and the anxiety have not materialized into a terrifying disturbance. Except for one minor incident, the pre-campaign and campaign process -- from June 7 until June 20 -- went surprisingly well.
It was a big achievement for the people and politicians of the city, particularly as election season in neighboring regencies was marred by various incidents, ranging from intimidation and the destruction of campaign banners and billboards to physical assault.
Head of the Denpasar Elections Commission (KPUD) Ray Misno attributes this achievement to the candidates' political maturity and understanding of the nature of the political process.
"We are very lucky because all the participating candidates are open-minded and composed politicians who are acutely aware that the fate and future of this city very much depends upon their ability to maintain order during this political process," he said.
"They made a gentlemen's agreement not to hold a large, outdoor public meeting and opt instead for indoor events and various charity and social activities, such as visiting orphanages. And they stayed true to that agreement," Misno said.
The candidates were indeed at their most generous during this critical period.
Puspayoga, for instance, spent a large amount of money on billboards bearing diplomatic messages.
Rather than urging the people to elect Puspayoga, the billboards displayed the smiling faces of Puspayoga and his running mate, Rai Mantra, above the text: "Menang atau Kalah, Denpasar Tetap Aman dan Kondusif" (Denpasar will still be safe and peaceful (whether we) win or lose the election).
A similar message was conveyed by Widiada and his running mate, Suma Widana, during public appearances.
"The interests of this city, of the people of Denpasar are worth a thousand more than our political interest. Winning and losing are a natural consequence of any political endeavor and we will not sacrifice the security and peace of this city just for the sake of winning this election," Widiada stressed.
While their counterparts in Badung and Tabanan were busy attacking each other in local news outlets, both Puspayoga and Widiada used the media to sent a message of cooperation, unity and the importance of stable security and economic conditions.
"Both Puspayoga and Widiada are mature and low-profile figures. Their ability to stay cool and make friendly gestures toward each other are the key to the peaceful political atmosphere we are currently experiencing," poet Mas Ruscitadewi noted.
Ray Misno, however, said the days immediately following election day on June 24 would be the real test for Puspayoga and Widiada.
"Will they really be able to accept defeat in a controlled and peaceful manner?. Will they be able to control the reaction of their die-hard supporters? These are the questions that are haunting my sleepless nights," he disclosed.
"If we win, we will immediately pay Puspayoga a visit and ask for his support. If we lose, we will immediately pay Puspayoga a visit and offer him our support," Widiada responded.
On June 24, around 342,348 registered voters will cast their votes at 1,004 polling stations across the city. On that day, they will not only elect a new mayor but put their politicians through the ultimate test of character; how composed will they be in a moment of political defeat.