JAKARTA: Indonesia has discarded a plan to buy 733 million euros worth of Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets previously used by Qatar, the defence ministry spokesperson said. The development took place as the country is going to hold polls to elect new leaders.
Two of Indonesia’s three presidential candidates promised to protect press freedom in the country at a weekend event that frontrunner Prabowo Subianto did not participate in the event, local media reported.
The event came just days ahead of the February 14 elections, and as some citizens raise concerns over an erosion of the country’s democratic freedoms. Criticism over interference has been levelled at outgoing President Joko Widodo, who has given implicit support to Prabowo Subianto. In the past, incumbent Presidents wrapping up their second term have remained neutral.
Indonesia Elections
On the last day of the election campaigning, former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan and former Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo inked the National Press Council’s written declarations to uphold press freedom and democracy in the country.
Prabowo is projected by several opinion surveys to pip the 50 percent threshold required to win the polls in a single round.
Prabowo’s campaign organizer, Rosan Roeslani, stated at the event: “Freedom of the press is something that we unconditionally must maintain and improve …as it is one of the forefronts of our democracy.”
