Indonesia Prez Widodo names election rival Subianto defense minister

Indonesian President Joko Widodo chose his election rival Prabowo Subianto as his defense minister on October 23. Subianto was opposition leer in Widodo's first term who was defeated and served as a former general linked to human rights abuses. Widodo h to face a bitter campaign plagued by online fake news and claims from Subianto that government std a massive, systematic and fraudulent election. On Wednesday, he ded a total of 34 entrepreneurs and techcrats to his Cabinet to dress slowing growth in country. ministers also include politicians from Widodo’s governing coalition who supported his victory in April election. 

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Widodo's dress at Presidential Palace

58-year-old sworn in as President on October 20 for his second and final five-year term. He reportedly pledged to champion democracy and take bolder actions against poverty and establsied corruption in Indonesia. Widodo asked his Cabinet and institutional hes to fight graft by creating a system to close off any chances of corruption. Speaking on appointment of new Defense Minister, President said that he kws his job well.

“Don’t be corrupt! Be serious at work, and for those who are t serious, I would take m out of this (Cabinet),” Widodo warned.

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Subianto earlier did t agree on election results

statement comes as violent protests have threatened credibility of Widodo, who was re-elected after campaigning for clean governance. protests were against a law that y claim has crippled country’s anti-corruption ncy, which underlines challenge in fighting graft.  country ranks 89 in 2018 Corruption Perceptions Index by Transparency International. Widodo said Indonesians should unite and that he and his defeated rival met in July for first time since April vote. He ded that Subianto h been negotiating for Cabinet positions, signaling a calming of tensions. Subianto refused to accept election results initially. Nine people also died in riots after elections.  Indonesian top court found substance to his allegations of a fraudulent election and refused to hold a re-election. 

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Human Rights activists unhappy about Subianto being Defense minister

Widodo and Subainto have appeared toger in a series of apparently friendly public meetings. President also described rival as a good friend over social media. Prabowo Subianto is founder and leer of Gerindra political party. Human Rights activists see Subianto’s appointment as a conservative backlash against Widodo’s efforts to dress Indonesia’s poor human rights record. opposition leer has a history of alleged abuses during authoritarian rule of longtime President Suharto, and he has allied himself politically with groups that want Islamic rar than secular law to prevail in Indonesia. majority of his votes came from conservative provinces, but mainstream Muslim organizations and mirity voters backed Widodo, who secured 55.5% of vote in official results.

Andreas Harso, Indonesia’s researcher at Human Rights Watch, said, “It’s a dark day for human rights and justice in Indonesia". 

(With inputs from ncies)

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