Jakarta – One of Indonesian presidential contender Prabowo Subianto on Tuesday asked his supporters across the country to help ease tension following the claims of victory by all two candidates for the July 9 presidential polls.
Both 63-year-old former general Prabowo and his rival 53-year- old presidential front-runner Jakarta governor Joko Widodo have decisively asserted their claims based on the result of quick votes counts, which some of them declared the governor as the winner and some other put the former general in victory.
Prabowo asked his supporter to refrain from anarchy or conducting any actions which could deteriorate situation.
“We urged supporters not to use words that can tense the situation,” Prabowo said at the headquarters of the second largest Muslim organization of Muhammadiyah.
“This aims to keep the peaceful situation and for the good of the nation. We love this country and we want the best for this nation,” he stated.
Prabowo made a visit to the organization and met with the chairman of Muhammadiyah Din Syamsuddin.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked both Prabowo and Jokowi, nicknamed Joko Widodo, to help calm down their supporters to avoid the situation turn to unrest.
As many as 254 police assisted by over 23 soldiers have been dispatched to guard the presidential ballot and days afterwards, according to Agus Rianto, national police spokesman.
On Monday, the former general declared a coalition among the political parties supporting him.
The coalition secured over 60 percent of seats in the parliament. The rest of the parties give support to Jokowi.
National Electoral Commission, or KPU, is to announce the official result of the presidential election on July 22.
Many quick votes counts done by leading and more credible survey agencies have declared Jokowi as the winner of the presidential polls, while a few of survey agencies have named Prabowo as the winner.
To prove the credibility and validity of the result of the quick votes counts, all of their works are now being audited. Source: Xinhua