Governor contenders committed to peaceful second-round poll

Soekarwo and Khofifah Indar Parawansa, two rivals contending the upcoming second round of the East Java gubernatorial elections, declared Tuesday at the provincial police headquarters that they were committed to a peaceful race.

"We will be thankful either in winning or losing the race and pledge to set forth the interests of peace-loving East Javanese people," Soekarwo said after signing the declaration.

Khofifah and her running mate Mudjiono shook hands with their rival pair after putting their signatures to the declaration statement.

Khofifah and Mudjiono, nominated by the United Development Party (PPP), have conducted a campaign to remote areas and approached the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), minority political parties and Nahdlatul Ulema (the largest Muslim organization) to win political support in the second round.

Meanwhile, Soekarwo and running mate Saifullah Yusuf, nominated by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party and the National Mandate Party (PAN) have won political support from influential clerics in the province. The pair also approached different communities, including non-Muslims and businesspeople, to garner support.

Both rivals were scheduled to present their visions, mission statements and political platforms in detail in a three-day political campaign starting Wednesday until Friday.

There will be a three-day cooling off period before the election day on Nov. 4.

The East Java General Elections Commission (KPUD) has prepared election logistics with an additional budget of Rp 42 billion (US$3.5 million). There are some 29.2 million eligible voters.

The police will deploy 27,000 officers throughout the province to maintain security during the ballot day.

Both the police and military have been asked to maintain their neutrality in the gubernatorial race.

Meanwhile, Kacung Marijan, a political analyst at the Airlangga University, called on security authorities, especially the police, to enhance their alertness in certain regencies and municipalities which are prone to scuffles among supporters of the two rivals.