Muchus Budi R., Solo – Democratic Party presidential candidate and retired general Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono alias SBY says he is saddened by the wave of demonstrations opposing presidential candidates with a military background. In his assessment, these opponents are holding the actions within the framework of democracy however in fact they are betraying democracy itself.

“It is the right of everyone, including retired TNI [armed forces] officers to compete though democratic means to nominate themselves as presidential or vice-presidential candidates. If indeed [they] don’t like me, yeah well, they don’t have to vote for me”, said SBY. This issue was taken up by SBY during the declaration of the SBY success team in Central Java and Yogyakarta which was held at the Wisata Niaga Building in Solo on Tuesday May 11.

“It’s up to the people who will be voting. The spirited [attempts] to prohibit and block [candidates from the military] is in fact a betrayal of democracy and the democracy which we are struggling for together at the moment”, said SBY who was of course greeted by thunderous applause by his supporters.

The declaration of SBY and vice-presidential candidate [former coordinating minister for people’s welfare Jusuf] Kalla’s success team was attended by more than 500 supporters from Central Java and Yogyakarta. SBY appeared together with his success team, one of whom is the former Iskandar Muda (Aceh) territorial military commander Major General Djali Jusuf. As in previous campaign events, before the event ended SBY sang a duet with Djali Jusuf of his favorite song “Rainbow in my eyes”.

[Abridged translation by James Balowski.]