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N. Sumatra residents enthusiastically watch US election
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For democracy – US Consul for Medan, North Sumatra, Juha P. Salin (standing in the center) explains the US presidential election process at a public viewing event at his official residence in Medan on Nov. 9. (JP/Apriadi Gunawan)
G
overnment officials, students, academicians, NGO activists and businesspeople in Medan, North Sumatra, followed the 2016 US presidential election voting day on Tuesday evening, or Wednesday morning local time, at a joint viewing event, known locally as “nobar”.
Several consuls of foreign countries in Medan also attended the event, which was held at the official residence of the US Consul in Medan from 9 a.m. local time through Wednesday noon.
A youth leader, who introduced himself as Beldi, said he was very happy to attend the live broadcast via television of the election day at the house of US Consul in Medan Juha P. Salin.
Beldi said this year’s election was much more tense compared to the previous election because the voting suggested a tight race between the two presidential candidates, Donald Trump of the Republican Party and Hillary Clinton of the Democratic Party.
“Although I’m not a US citizen, I also felt tense watching this year’s US presidential election voting. The race was really tough,” Beldo told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
After months of a tough campaign, Trump shocked the world by beating Clinton in the race for the White House -- a victory that ends eight years of Democratic rule.
Salin said he was very happy to see the enthusiasm of Medan residents. He said the US government held the public viewing event to share the democracy experience.
“We invited Indonesian people to watch directly the US presidential election today as a form of our commitment as a country, which upholds a democratic process,” he said. (ebf)
