Vice President Jusuf Kalla invited several well-known persons in Indonesia, including religious and community leaders, to his residence here on Thursday evening to discuss the country's current situation.
The figures who attended the meeting, which began about 08.30 p.m., included Tri Sutrisno, Mahfud MD, Din Syamsudin, Komaruddin Hidayat, Bambang Hendarso Danuri, Abdul Mukti, Sofyan Djalil, Amirsyah Tambunan, Syafruddin, Agus Wijoyo, and Anies Baswedan.
On Wednesday, Jusuf Kalla had hinted that he sought to bring together important figures in the country to work to help reduce tensions, in the aftermath of the General Elections Commission's (KPU's) announcement on the recent presidential election results.
"I have been attempting to initiate a meeting among figures. I have yet to meet with Prabowo (Subianto) but, the point is, it is still underway," he told journalists.
As the government's representative, Kalla said he was ready to open a dialogue with political elites who were involved in the 2019 Presidential Elections, in a bid to create peace and stability in the country.
"The government is certainly ready to talk and hold a dialogue with all figures, because our goal is similar in creating peace and prosperity. These all have procedures," he said, adding that the entire nation needs to remain calm.
If the mass protests get worse, Indonesia could again be plunged into an economic and political condition like that of 1998, Kalla said.
In another development, Prabowo Subianto's brother, Hashim Djojohadikusumo, has been appointed to represent the Prabowo-Sandi pair when filing a lawsuit at the Constitutional Court (MK) over the disputed election results.
"Mr. Hashim Djojohadikusumo is appointed to lead our team of lawyers. Tomorrow, prior to the deadline, a team of lawyers will file a lawsuit at the Constitutional Court," Vice Presidential candidate number 02 Sandiaga Uno said.
The KPU had announced the final results of the recent parliamentary and presidential elections, detailing the victory of the Joko Widodo (Jokowi)-Ma'ruf Amin pair on early Tuesday.
The final tally that the KPU announced at around 1:28 a.m. indicated the Jokowi- Amin pair had secured 85 million votes, or 55.5 percent of the national vote, as compared to contenders Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno's 68 million votes, or 44.5 percent.
The Jokowi-Amin pair had declared victory, while the Prabowo-Sandi pair rejected the KPU's official tabulation result and vowed to challenge it by filing an official complaint with the Constitutional Court (MK).
This unfinished political process has sparked a mass protest from the Prabowo-Sandi pair's supporters, who alleged massive fraud in the presidential elections.
Tensions arose and led to a riot in the Tanah Abang area of Central Jakarta from Tuesday evening to early Wednesday.
The post-election riot claimed eight lives and 541 injuries, as of Thursday at 11.00 a.m., Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan said.
(INE)
Translator: Fransiska Ninditya, Rahmad N
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2019
