Susilo supporters shave heads in victory

Susilo supporters shave heads in victory

The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta/Palu/Semarang

Following the people of Semarang, supporters of Gen. (ret) Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono in Yogyakarta and Central Sulawesi celebrated
on Thursday Susilo's obvious victory in the presidential election
by shaving their heads.

At least 100 Susilo supporters in Yogyakarta gathered on
Thursday in Meguwo subdistrict, Banguntapan district, Bantul
regency to celebrate together with razors.

"We promised ourselves that if Susilo won, we would shave our
heads. Ballot counting has not finished, but we're sure he is
heading to a landslide victory," said Bambang Waskito, the
coordinator of the ceremony.

As of Thursday 4 p.m., Susilo had 64.9 million votes, far
above the 41.4 million votes garnered by rival Megawati.

Several quick counts suggest Susilo will win a landslide
victory in the election.

Bambang said that more than 100 people had signed up to shave
their heads. Two barber shops were hired to shave for the
job.

The funds for the barbers came from a group of people claiming
to be Susilo's campaign team in Bantul regency. The regency was
considered a stronghold of Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party
of Struggle (PDI-P).

Bambang, adviser to the campaign group, said the shaving
ceremony symbolized the wish of people for openness during the
tenure of Susilo.

"Having had our heads shaved, we feel a comforting breeze on
our heads. So we expect a similarly convenient, peaceful and
democratic situation under the tenure of Susilo," said Bambang
jokingly.

Purwo Harsono, 81, a retired soldier, expressed relief that he
got the chance to shave his head due to Suliso's showing in the
polls.

Separately, people in Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi
province, also celebrated Susilo and running mate Jusuf Kalla's
victory.

Some 300 residents of Palu, who said they were members of the
city's Susilo campaign team, shaved their heads in a car showroom
belonging to Jusuf Kalla's family.

Hamzah Marru, the manager of PT Hadji Kalla's Palu branch, was
the first to have his head shaved by barbers hired by the
company, which is considered the largest car dealership in
eastern Indonesia.

"In Islam, if you make a nazar (promise), you have to fulfill
it. And now we are honoring our promise," said Hamzah.

The unique celebration was witnessed by car buyers, local
residents and showroom employees. The celebration lasted at least
four hours.

Earlier on Wednesday, 20 members of the Susilo Fan Club in
Semarang shaved their heads after they could be sure that Susilo
would win a landslide victory in the election runoff.