Candidates for Jakarta governor signed an agreement at the city police headquarters on Wednesday, pledging to keep the city secure and peaceful all through the election process. Despite the ongoing controversy surrounding the voters’ list, which may result in the election’s postponement, the candidates chatted with each other and waved to media people during the signing ceremony. Apart from committing to support an honest and fair election, other points in the pledge include the readiness of the six pairs of candidates to accept the election’s results, ability to control supporters and willingness to face the law if found to have violated the law.
“With this pledge signed, I hope all candidates are committed to keeping the city safe, peaceful and riot-free right through to the end of the election process,” city police chief Insp. Gen. Untung S. Rajab, one of the pledge’s signatories, said.
The candidates all agreed that they must accept the election’s results. “If a candidate is not able to control his supporters and maintain the peace during the election, then he is not worthy to lead Jakarta,” said independent candidate Faisal Basri, who attended the event with running mate Biem Benyamin. Candidate Hidayat Nurwahid came without running mate Didik J. Rachbini, while incumbent Governor Fauzi Bowo and Surakarta Mayor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo did not show up.
Full Article: Candidates pledge to keep election fair, peaceful | The Jakarta Post.