Campaigning right after a huge natural disaster is inappropriate, at the very least. That is a sentiment shared by both sides contesting April’s presidential election in Indonesia.
Yesterday, former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), whose Democratic Party is backing Gerindra Chairman Prabowo Subianto, proposed a cessation of political activities related to the election in light of the earthquake-tsunami that has devastated Central Sulawesi.
“In times like these, I am of the opinion, and am advising, that all campaigning activities be stopped for some time out of respect for Palu city and Donggala regency in Central Sulawesi,” SBY said in a video he posted on his official Youtube account.
SBY also called on everybody to put their political differences aside to help the government in providing much-needed aid to the disaster areas.
President Joko Widodo’s PDI-P party agreed with SBY’s proposal.
“All of the nation’s elites must unite. We must put forward humanity, cooperation, and empathy. The earthquake and tsunami reminded us of the need to act quickly. All parties, campaign teams, and public figures must unite hand in hand to help the victims,” PDI-P Secretary General Hasto Kristianto wrote in a press release today, as picked up by Kompas.
The presidential campaign period has been underway since Sept. 23, with its last day being April 13, 2019. The presidential and general elections are taking place on April 17, 2019.
The General Election Commission (KPU) has not decreed any suspension of campaigning in light of the Sulawesi disaster. However, both Jokowi and Prabowo can mutually agree on a potential suspension like in March 2009, when SBY and his then-challenger Jusuf Kalla agreed to temporarily stop campaigning after the Situ Gintung dam in Tangerang burst, resulting in a flood that killed around 100 people.
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