S

ugih tanpo bondho, digdoyo tanpo adji, nglurug tanpo bolo, menang tanpo ngasorake'€ (One is rich without material wealth, powerful without an army, conquering without invading and victorious without being condescending).

It is a timeless Javanese proverb many take to heart. An adage reflecting the mood of a people'€™s victory on July 9, 2014.

Over the past weeks one candidate persevered with the financial might of powerbrokers in a campaign that was fought with the spirit of volunteers rather than organized political conscripts. They prevailed without betraying their own ethics, and in the hour of triumph yielded the spoils to those who made it happen: the people.

While the formal election results will not be announced for another fortnight, it is almost definite that Joko '€œJokowi'€ Widodo and running mate Jusuf Kalla have won the day.

The president-elect will know the above Javanese proverb by heart. His demeanor and character set the tone for his campaign team, whose unobtrusive nature was prey to the harsh stratagem of their political opponents.

Yet prevail they did. And we are proud that our president- and vice president-elect won the day on a platform of honesty, humility and dignity. A platform that in turn generated hope.

But our hope remains somewhat cautious. In fact as we bask in the birth of hope, we worry at the simmering agitation prior to the formal announcement of the election'€™s final results.

As Indonesians celebrated the peaceful implementation of their third direct presidential election, signs of a long and bitter poll confirmation loom.

No candidate has conceded defeat. Both have claimed victory. But the tone of their proclamations are of stark contrast.

One is of relief and appreciation. The other defiant.

Presidential candidate Prabowo has every right to refuse magnanimity toward the overwhelming evidence of legitimate quick count results. He is entitled to cling to any illusion before the General Elections Committee (KPU) presents its formal tally on July 22. The dismissed lieutenant general has the privilege to hope against hope.

But we worry that his exuberant statements of defiance have too much of a whiff of revolt in their tone.

Even if the former son-in-law of president Soeharto cannot yet concede defeat, we urge his coalition to turn its rhetoric from confrontation to peaceful reconciliation. The final tally will be counted and a winner declared come what may. There is no point inflaming disappointed hearts in the meantime.

Our time would be more constructively spent on ensuring that the ballots are judiciously safeguarded, counted fairly and tallied accordingly. As citizens, our task does not end with dipping our fingers in India ink. From the neighborhood district to the provincial election offices, this nation has to make sure that menacing attempts to subvert the democratic vote count are thwarted.

It is a commitment that should cut through party lines and candidate endorsements. Election volunteers, security personnel, civil servants and the media are called upon to safeguard the election results.

Our job is far from done to endorse the people'€™s will.