By Ainur Rohmah
JAKARTA, Indonesia
Quick counts showing two different candidates winning the presidential election failed to dampen the enthusiasm of Indonesians on Thursday, with both sets of supporters claiming victory.
Those celebrating, however, were told by both candidates to remain calm as the announcement of the official result is still 12 days away.
On Wednesday, after around 188 million people had voted, the country's most reliable pollsters had Joko "Jokowi" Widodo ahead, but ex-general Prabowo Subianto highlighted quick counts by lesser known organizations which suggested he had won. Of the 12 counts, eight ruled for Jokowi, one deciding 8 percentage points in his favour; while of the four for Subianto, the highest winning margin was 4 points.
In Central Java’s Semarang city a number of those rooting for Jokowi and his running mate Jusuf Kalla fulfilled vows to shave their heads -- "an expression of gratitude for Jokowi's victory."
"I've had this aim ever since Jokowi ran as a presidential candidate," 40-year-old Mulyono -- many Indonesians use only one name -- told the Anadolu Agency, his head freshly shaved.
Bambang Kusriyanto, chairman of the Jokowi-Kalla team in Semarang, said he had instructed supporters not to take to the streets in celebration, so as to avoid friction with followers of the rival candidate.
"Up to now there has been no mass taking to the streets," Kusriyanto told the AA.
Supporters of Subianto in Solo slaughtered goats in celebration, sending bouquets to his team’s Jakarta headquarters in congratulations. Subianto, meanwhile -- while inviting followers to celebrate victory -- cautioned them to remain calm.
At a press conference Thursday afternoon, Jokowi urged supporters not to celebrate excessively, thanking the national and international media for their "professionalism and impartiality" in covering the electoral process.
Alluding to international developments, he denounced Israel's actions against the Palestinian people, saying, "There has been a breach of human rights. The situation is very alarming because there is mass murder."
Jokowi urged outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to play an active role in defense of Palestinians in international forums.
He added that he will also meet with the Palestinian ambassador to Indonesia to directly convey his sense of concern.
