Local and foreign observers differ on poll assessment<\/p>\n
M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta<\/p>\n
While local observers declined to call the July 5 polls free and
\nfair, the Carter Center and other foreign monitoring teams said
\non Wednesday that they were impressed by the way in which the
\nelection had proceeded.<\/p>\n
"It was an honest, fair and safe election," former U.S.
\npresident Jimmy Carter, who chairs the center, announced after a
\n15-minute meeting with President Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
He said, despite some minor problems, the Carter Center
\nconsidered that the electoral process was honest and transparent,
\noverall. "We are particularly grateful that it has been safe,"
\nCarter added.<\/p>\n
Similar praise was aired by the delegation of the European
\nUnion (EU), which also met with Megawati on Wednesday, and the
\nWashington-based National Democratic Institute (NDI).<\/p>\n
"The presidency takes the opportunity to commend the people
\nand government of Indonesia for the generally peaceful and open
\nmanner in which this round has taken place, and expresses
\nconfidence that these elections will contribute to the deepening
\nof the democratic process in Indonesia," said a statement from
\nthe Dutch government, as president of the EU, released to The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
NDI director Paul Rowland also lauded the peaceful election.
\n"The KPU (General Elections Commission) and political parties
\nshould be congratulated. But, Indonesians deserve much credit as
\nthey had the responsibility to show their leaders where they want
\nto go," he said.<\/p>\n
He said the direct election was a remarkable indication of
\nprogress in Indonesia, which has been struggling for six years in
\nits transition to democracy.<\/p>\n
"This is the largest direct presidential election in the
\nworld. It is the first for Indonesia and ran quite smoothly -- so
\nfar," Rowland said.<\/p>\n
Carter also said the KPU deserved credit for undertaking such
\na huge task.<\/p>\n
However, he criticized the commission over the double-puncture
\ndebacle, which spoiled the positive mood of the election.<\/p>\n
"The commission made a serious mistake in that it did not
\nanticipate the problem of dual punctures," he said.<\/p>\n
Carter said the election marked another important step in
\nIndonesia's democratic consolidation. "In just a few years,
\nIndonesia has made a dramatic transition from authoritarian rule
\nto democracy," he added.<\/p>\n
The Carter Center said it would issue a more comprehensive
\nreport on the overall electoral process.<\/p>\n
The reports of local independent observers, however, were not
\nso glowing. Earlier on Wednesday, the Center for Electoral Reform
\n(Cetro), the People's Network for Voter Education (JPPR) and the
\nPeople's Network for Elections Monitoring (JAMPPI) claimed the
\nelectoral process was far from free and fair.<\/p>\n
"One of many indications of whether an election is fair is
\nthat equal treatment is given to candidates at polling stations.
\nWe do not believe that transpired," Cetro executive director
\nSmita Notosusanto said.<\/p>\n
In a joint statement, the independent observers said
\nirregularities had also marred the July 5 election.<\/p>\n
In their preliminary analysis, the election teams discovered a
\ngreat number of unregistered voters, who poll committees (PPS)
\nallowed to vote.<\/p>\n
Cetro, in its observation, found that 32 percent of voters in
\nover 1,400 polling stations were permitted to vote, even though
\nthey were not registered.<\/p>\n
The JPPR found that, at over 1,200 polling stations, 10
\npercent of voters were "intimidated" by other voters, campaign
\nteams and poll committees.<\/p>\n
The three poll watchdogs had deployed over 130,000 observers
\nto monitor the presidential election across the country.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/local-and-foreign-observers-differ-on-poll-assessment-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}