Iraqi politicians want to learn from Indonesia<\/p>\n
Agencies, Jakarta\/Surabaya<\/p>\n
A delegation of visiting Iraqi politicians said on Friday that
\nelections in their violence-wracked country should go ahead in
\nJanuary as planned, and that Indonesia's transition to democracy
\nfrom dictatorship was a good model for Iraq.<\/p>\n
\"Many of the problems here are the same,\" said Saad Abdal
\nGadir, from the Iraqi Islamic Party. \"We are here to look and
\nlearn.\"<\/p>\n
Indonesia and Iraq are both Muslim countries that endured
\nyears of authoritarian regime. Indonesians kicked Soeharto regime
\nout in 1998 and next week will directly elect a president for the
\nfirst time in their history.<\/p>\n
The visit by 10 representatives of various Iraqi political
\nparties is being sponsored by the Washington-based International
\nRepublican Institute, a nonprofit group that promotes democracy.<\/p>\n
\"We see that democratic steps are taking place here and due to
\nthis we are confident that democracy in Iraq will find its way,\"
\nsaid Redha Taki, from the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution
\nin Iraq.<\/p>\n
To be sure, there are differences in the Indonesian and Iraqi
\nexperiences, not least the fact that U.S. forces deposed Iraq's
\nex-dictator Saddam Hussein and still occupy the country 18 months
\non.<\/p>\n
Iraq's move to democracy is being hampered by a bloody
\ninsurgency waged by Islamic militants, Saddam loyalists and
\nnationalist fighters that shows no sign of stopping.<\/p>\n
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Wednesday
\nthat he feared the continued insecurity in Iraq would likely
\nblock elections slated for January.<\/p>\n
All members of the visiting Iraqi delegation in Jakarta
\ninsisted that the polls could take place as planned despite the
\nviolence.<\/p>\n
\"Delaying the election will affect everyone's credibility,\"
\nsaid Saad Jasim, from the Iraqi Democratic Movement.<\/p>\n
Indonesia has been cited as a rare example of a functioning
\nIslamic democracy -- something the Iraqi politicians said could
\nalso be replicated in their own nation, which is surrounded by
\nauthoritarian regimes.<\/p>\n
\"Islam as a faith does not at all contradict with democracy,\"
\nsaid Hasan Hassoun, from the Islamic Democratic Trend. \"Both can
\nwork together in a harmonious way.\"<\/p>\n
In Surabaya, two observers from Iraq were visiting East Java
\nto monitor the election in Pasuruan district, Antara news agency
\nreported on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Jamil of Iraqi Women's Rights and Faisal Jasem of the National
\nElection Center sought background information on the way in which
\nIndonesia conducted the election in the district, which has often
\nbeen affected by political conflict, according to Nur Hidayat of
\nthe People's Political Education Network (JPPR).<\/p>\n
\"After getting some information about the implementation of
\nelections in the country, particularly from some competent
\ninstitutions like the General Elections Commission (KPU), the
\nElection Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) and others, they are
\nnow visiting Pasuruan,\" Hidayat said.<\/p>\n
The two Iraqis, who arrived in Indonesia on Tuesday, were
\nregistered as observers with the KPU's office in East Java<\/p>\n
They were accompanied by Dedy Sitorus of Indonesia's National
\nDemocratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), a nonprofit
\norganization promoting democracy worldwide, and Arif Budiman, an
\ninterpreter.<\/p>\n
Hidayat said the Iraqi observers were keen to learn about the
\nelection at district level to prepare for their own election next
\nyear.<\/p>\n
\"At least 12 Iraqi poll watchers are visiting the country,
\nHowever two of them will monitor the election in East Java and
\nthe others in four other provinces,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/iraqi-politicians-want-to-learn-from-indonesia-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}