The 11 Democratic Party presidential convention participants delivered their mission statements on Sunday, kick starting their political campaigns.

During the event, which was held at a plush hotel in Central Jakarta, each participant was given five minutes to deliver his vision.

In his speech, former Indonesian Army chief Lt. Gen. (ret) Pramono Edhie Wibowo, considered to be the strongest contender, touched on rumors surrounding his participation.

'€œDon'€™t get ahead of God'€™s will. Don'€™t assume. This country needs a good lesson,'€ Pramono said, apparently responding to a statement from ousted Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum who said the convention'€™s winner would be unable to improve the party'€™s electability.

Another participant, Paramadina University Rector Anies Baswedan, promised that he would promote equality and policies that were nondiscriminatory.

'€œThis nation is not designed to protect either the majority or minority. This nation should protect every single citizen, regardless of faith, race or background,'€ Anies said.

House of Representatives Speaker, Marzuki Alie, also a participant, said he joined the convention to serve the party.

The 11 participants are Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) member Ali Masykur Musa; Anies; State-Owned Enterprises Minister Dahlan Iskan; Indonesian Ambassador to the US Dino Patti Djalal; former Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Endriartono Sutarto; Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan; Regional Representatives Council (DPD) Speaker Irman Gusman; House Commission I member Hayono Isman; Marzuki; Pramono, and North Sulawesi Governor Sinyo Harry Sarundajang.

Unlike in the US presidential primary where voters directly cast their ballots, the winner in the convention will be determined by '€œindependent'€ surveys conducted by three polling institutes.

'€œFormally, the power to determine the party'€™s presidential candidate is held by the head of the party'€™s Supreme Assembly [which is also chaired by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono]. But the assembly'€™s chairman will agree to whoever is named the winner in the convention,'€ said Maftuh Basyuni, a former religious affairs minister.

Also on Sunday, Anas launched the Indonesian Movement (PI) at his home in Duren Sawit, East Jakarta. In his speech to launch the organization, Anas said that the PI would be the second chapter in his political life.

'€œThis is the first paragraph on the second page,'€ Anas said.

Anas also shrugged off the suggestion that PI would become a vehicle to retaliate against some of his political opponents. He said that the newly-launched organization would only use a cultural approach.

'€œWe will only work in the cultural realm and will build Indonesia according to the Unity in Diversity principle. This is different from a political party. This will only be a mass organization,'€ he said.

The Democratic Party banned its members from joining the new organization.

Party executive chairman Syarief Hasan said on Saturday that all party members should focus on boosting the party'€™s electability ahead of the 2014 elections, adding that their involvement in Anas'€™ organization would undermine that effort.

'€œWe fear that our concentration will be divided [if they join the mass organization],'€ he said.

On Sunday, many of Anas'€™ loyalists, including Saan Mustopa, Achmad Mubarok and Gde Pasek Suardika from the Democratic Party attended the event.

Also present were Anas'€™ former colleague in the General Elections Commission (KPU) Mulyana W. Kusumah and members of the powerful Islamic Students Association (HMI).

Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Abraham Samad, has repeatedly said the KPK would detain Anas for his alleged involvement in the Hambalang graft case.

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