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Citizen journalism: 'I hope Jokowi remains truthful'
Never too old: An elderly supporter of President Joko âJokowiâ Widodo with his bicycle joins the street celebration on Jl
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span class="inline inline-center">Never too old: An elderly supporter of President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo with his bicycle joins the street celebration on Jl. MH Thamrin on Monday, the day when Jokowi and Jusuf Kalla were sworn in as the country's President and Vice President. Citizen journalist/ Yuni Herlina
Mass euphoria drowned out the fractious legislature for a while. After the inauguration ceremony, President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla traveled in a horse-drawn carriage accompanied by a parade to the Presidential Palace from the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle.
A throng of jeering supporters lined the streets, mingling with employees from the buildings along the main road who halted their activities to join the pesta rakyat (people's festival). Hired street vendors roved around, offering meals for free. In the sweltering heat, Jl. MH Thamrin turned into an ocean of people, old and young, employed and unemployed, rich and poor.
Mahmuri arrived in Jakarta from thousands of miles away in Pemalang, Central Java, on a bicycle, to mark the historic moment. For a week, he peddled his old bike with various attributes of Jokowi-Kalla posters, photos and pins.
Despite the long arduous journey, he said he had no regrets and was happy to be in Jakarta. Asked further why he went to such great lengths, he proudly said it was because he loved Jokowi for his down-to-earth style and humble background. 'Jokowi is us and I hope he will remain the same after becoming President, keeping on listening to ordinary people's plights, being honest and working for the good of Indonesia.'
Seventy-six-year-old Noor expressed similar views about Jokowi. Coming to Jakarta back in 1953 from Jebres ' in Central Java's Surakarta, which is popularly known as Solo ' she had experienced all seven presidential inaugurations, from Sukarno to Jokowi.
Of all Jokowi's predecessors, there has never been such jubilant celebration among people from all walks of life on the main thoroughfares of Jakarta. Never before in her life had Noor been able to greet the President in person without any major hindrances. Noor, who lives in the Jl. Jaksa area, joined the masses with her daughter-in-law. Her extended family from Solo was to join them later after completing the parade with the entourage.
Rearranging her headscarf with her wrinkled hands, she said 'I hope Pak Jokowi remains truthful to delivering his promises. He is a good man with a remarkable, loveable persona.'
At the corner of the street, Mbah Sumiyem, a street vendor from Klaten, Central Java, who regularly sells pecel (vegetables with peanut sauce), said she was fortunate to experience the street carnival. Within an hour or so, her food had almost sold out.
A transition of power is not always scary or tense, with line-ups of soldiers with rifles ready. It was peaceful, full of joy and Mbah Sumiyem enjoyed the whole march. 'Pak Jokowi is a simple and humble guy who pays a lot of attention to less-fortunate people. I pray he will stay the same and be successful,' she said.
Yuni Herlina
Depok, West Java
