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.