Susilo-Kalla pairing gets reformist backing
Susilo-Kalla pairing gets reformist backing
Tiarma Siboro and Ridwan Max Sijabat, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
A number of national figures, grouped in the newly launched
Cultural Movement for Reform, signed a declaration on Thursday to
support the Susilo-Kalla ticket in the upcoming presidential
runoff.
The figures, mostly reform-minded politicians, declared their
support for the emergence of a new national leader committed to
total reform in all fields.
They include former president Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, his
brother Solahuddin "Gus Solah" Wahid, leader of the National
Awakening Party (PKB) Alwi Shihab, leader of the Freedom Bull
National Party (PNBK) Eros Djarot and Masdar F. Mas'udi, interim
head of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU).
During the declaration signing ceremony at the Hilton Hotel
here on Thursday, the movement warned voters of corruption and
vote-buying by certain groups who want to maintain the status quo
in the country. They also criticized the recent establishment of
the "Nationhood Coalition" comprising the pro-status-quo parties.
According to the movement's spokespeople, the General
Elections Commission (KPU) and the Election Supervisory Body
(Panwaslu) must stick to the law in carrying out their tasks to
prevent possible disputes among election contenders, their camps
and their supporters.
The reformist group also called for equality in power-sharing
in a bid to form a more democratic and fair government.
Gus Dur said that despite being a signatory to the
declaration, he would not vote on Sept. 20. He did however
emphasize how important the meeting was when he said, "I insisted
on coming to attend this event after canceling two important
appointments with the Singaporean minister of foreign affairs and
the Malaysian prime minister today", a reference to George Yeow
and Abdullah Achmad Badhawi, respectively.
After the declaration, Susilo also met with the widely
respected Yogyakarta governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X. It was the
third meeting between the two in the last two months. The first
and second meetings took place at the sultan's residence in
Yogyakarta.
The sultan said in a press conference after the meeting that
he wished to share his experiences and thoughts with Susilo and
running mate Yusuf Kalla on political and social issues to create
better conditions for the people in the future.
He added that he was not meeting the pair in his official
capacity as governor to endorse them, but as a concerned citizen.
In a mass gathering at the Senayan Sports Arena (Istora),
Susilo, accompanied by his wife Kristiani Yudhoyono, also
received political support from numerous groups of people.
"I am making no promises because it is my obligation to give
what the people have asked from me, and if Allah wills it, I will
win the presidential election and lead this nation," he said, as
the thousands in attendance erupted in applause.
During the two-hour gathering, which included several
folksongs, many groups of people shared their own problems with
Susilo and expressed their confidence that he would be able to
solve the problems in the next five years.
In Makassar, South Sulawesi, 23 groups of people from various
backgrounds, also pledged their political support for the Susilo-
Kalla ticket in the presidential runoff.