Regions brace for direct elections<\/p>\n
Local organizers are now busy preparing for the direct regional
\nelections, with the polls just a few weeks away. Starting in
\nJune, the country's first-ever direct regional elections will be
\nheld in 11 provinces and 215 regencies and municipalities
\nthroughout the nation. The Jakarta Post's Archipelago team looked
\ninto the preparations and possible conflicts before the polls.<\/p>\n
A farmer in Central Java says he'd rather feed his chickens than
\nleave home and vote in the country's first-ever direct regional
\nelections.<\/p>\n
The big shots weren't there to help prevent huge losses when
\nthousands of poultry farmers lost their chickens in the bird flu
\ncrisis last year, Ignasius Dwi K said indignantly.<\/p>\n
But local election officers across the archipelago cannot take
\ninto account such indifference; once again they're making the
\nnecessary preparations and bracing to face their neighbors'
\nprotests in the event that anything goes amiss.<\/p>\n
Among them is Edward Dewaruci, a member of Surabaya General
\nElection Commission (KPU). Like many other regional KPU members
\nacross the archipelago, Edward has a demanding job to prepare for
\nthe Surabaya mayoral election, scheduled to take place on June
\n27.<\/p>\n
Since he was elected a KPU member in February, Edward says he
\nhas attended many meetings that have lasted until midnight and
\nwoken up early in the morning for others. He is currently in the
\nthick of organizing preparations ahead of the campaign period;
\nthe provision and distribution of election materials.<\/p>\n
Edward and his colleagues nationwide are even working harder
\nthese days as the elections draw nearer; the first on June 1 in
\nKutai Kartanegara, East Kalimantan. There is much to be done so
\nthat many people, including some organizers, have expressed doubt
\nthat the elections will go ahead successfully.<\/p>\n
Pessimism abounds, moreover that the preparations are being
\nplagued with financial shortcomings and other conflicts. Many
\nregions have expressed concern about the absence of funds
\nreceived from central government and worry they will have to rely
\non their own cash-strapped budgets to hold the polls.<\/p>\n
There are other problems too, for this nation new to the paper
\nwars common in local body politics. Questions over the
\ninterpretation of the election rules led people in Maluku and
\nEast Nusa Tenggara to go on a rampage recently, after their
\nfavorite candidates were barred from running due to an
\n\"eligibility problem\".<\/p>\n
The vast area of the nation, including the mountains of Papua,
\nwill also be obstacles for the smooth distribution of election
\nmaterials, as has been seen in the legislative and presidential
\nelections last year.<\/p>\n
Then there is the threat of a boycott by an increasingly
\ndisillusioned and disenfranchised electorate. Speaking to many
\npotential voters The Jakarta Post team found the carry-on of most
\nelected officials in recent years has put the people's trust in
\nall kinds of politicians, whether big or small, at a very low
\nebb.<\/p>\n
Jansen Hutagaol, 48, a Medan resident puts it thus: \"Direct or
\nindirect elections -- whatever -- both are bullshit. The
\ncandidates and our leaders have never really cared about the
\npeople. You can see this; that the people stay poor and the
\nleaders get richer after every election.\" Jansen says he has been
\nworking as a parking attendant for eight years.<\/p>\n
Election observers note that if the many people who feel like
\nJansen do stay away, it will certainly reduce vote numbers and
\nthe election's overall legitimacy.<\/p>\n
However, despite the mounting skepticism and logistical
\nchallenges, some still reserve hope the elections will proceed
\nwell and deliver better, more-honest politicians.<\/p>\n
Rumbadie Dalle, a senior journalist, hoped that the direct
\nelections would proceed peacefully and produce better outcomes
\nthan the earlier system of appointments that was prone to
\ncronyism and graft.<\/p>\n
\"I believe that the direct election will produce credible,
\ncapable and honest regional leaders. The direct election is the
\nbest system in democracy,\" said Dalle, a correspondent with the
\nleading Tempo weekly news magazine.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/regions-brace-for-direct-elections-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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