Carter praises lack of violence during campaign<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter on Saturday
\nhailed the lack of violence in the campaign for Indonesia's first
\ndemocratic election in 44 years, and said he believed it would be
\nfair and free.<\/p>\n
Carter, who is in Indonesia heading a team of election
\nobservers, said Indonesians had shown their commitment to
\ndemocracy through a peaceful campaign.<\/p>\n
\"It's been a glorious demonstration by the Indonesian people
\nso far that they are not only committed to democracy and freedom
\nbut also committed to having a peaceful election,\" Carter told a
\nnews conference.<\/p>\n
Monday's poll will be the first democratic election in
\nIndonesia since 1955 and the first since the fall of long-time
\npresident Soeharto amid bloody violence in May last year.<\/p>\n
\"From all early indications it will be fair and free and
\npeaceful,\" Carter said as quoted by Reuters. He added that
\ndespite the relatively small number of foreign observers, the
\npresence of some 300,000 domestic observers should ensure any
\nlikelihood of vote-rigging to be eliminated.<\/p>\n
Separately, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and
\nthe international community sent their best wishes to the
\nIndonesian people for a peaceful and successful general
\nelections.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia's friends wish the country peaceful, transparent
\nelections marked by the same good spirit that was displayed
\nduring most of the campaign period,\" said Ravi Rajan, resident
\nrepresentative of UNDP, which is coordinating international
\ntechnical assistance for the elections.<\/p>\n
The international community has been helping the elections in
\nthree areas: supporting the General Election Commission (KPU,
\nincluding its voter-information campaigns), funding voter-
\neducation activities by Indonesian NGOs and previewing voter-
\ninformation television spots.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, leading politicians Amien Rais and Faisal Basri of
\nthe National Mandate Party (PAN) expressed doubt on Saturday over
\nthe ruling Golkar's earlier claim it would win the elections by
\nat least 40 percent.<\/p>\n
\"In South Sulawesi (considered to be the stronghold of
\nPresident B.J. Habibie) may be Golkar will win, but not in other
\nareas,\" Faisal, the secretary-general of PAN, said to reporters
\non the sideline of a party function on Saturday.<\/p>\n
Chairman Amien said: \"I have been traveling the country, its
\nrural areas too, and I have found that most people did not want
\nGolkar (to win).\"<\/p>\n
Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung had earlier this week estimated
\na win of 40 percent of the votes. Some 112 million voters are
\nexpected to turn up at 320,000 polling stations on Monday for the
\nballoting. The stations will open at 8 a.m. and close at 2 p.m.
\nSome 12 hours later, about 60 percent of the votes will have been
\ntabulated.<\/p>\n
Amien and Faisal were hosting a \"post campaign\" dinner. In his
\nspeech, Amien revealed he just came into the possession of a copy
\nof a decree signed by President B.J. Habibie expressing his
\ngratitude for the hard work of the 500 members of the House of
\nRepresentatives (DPR).<\/p>\n
As a \"token of gratitude\", Amien said quoting the letter,
\nHabibie would present Rp 150 million (US$18,750) to each of the
\nHouse members.<\/p>\n
Also in his speech, Amien disclosed he would take defeat
\ngracefully if the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) won the elections. \"That would not be a problem,
\nbecause that's part of democratization. And if Megawati becomes
\npresident, then it would be because the people wish it to be so,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Amien had earlier expressed a refusal to become a vice
\npresident. (swe)<\/p>",
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