EU deploy 190 election monitors to Indonesia

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The European Union (EU) said on Thursday it would deploy a total of 190 election monitors to observe the forthcoming elections, which it said would mark a crucial stage in Indonesia's democratic transition process.

The 190-strong team under the auspices of the Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Indonesia consists of 64 long- term monitors and 128 short-term monitors led by Glyn Ford, a member of the European Parliament (MEP) from the United Kingdom.

Ford said the 64 long-term monitors would be deployed to various provinces across Indonesia, including Aceh, while the 128 short-term monitors would arrive in Indonesia before each election to observe polling and counting.

"The EU attaches great significance to the forthcoming general and presidential elections as they will mark a very important stage in Indonesia's democratic process. I hope that everyone involved in the election process will work to ensure that the elections this year are democratic and transparent, and take place in a peaceful environment," Ford told a press conference here.

He said the observers would be allowed to monitor the elections in Aceh province, where martial law is in force as part of a military offensive against separatist rebels.

The EU was invited by the General Elections Commission (KPU) to monitor the 2004 elections in Indonesia.

The EU EOM will apply seven criteria to asses the Indonesian elections: the degree of impartiality shown by the election administration, the degree of freedom of political parties and candidates to assemble and express their views, the fairness of access to state resources made available for the election, the degree of access for political parties and candidates to the media, in particular the state media, the universal franchise afforded to voters, any other issues that concern the democratic nature of the election, and the conduct of polling and counting of votes.

After each election, the EU EOM will issue a preliminary statement on its findings with a more comprehensive report being issued at a later stage.

Ford also said that he had been informed by KPU chairman Nazaruddin Sjamsuddin that the monitors would be given broad access to polling stations.

Polling monitors will be placed outside the off-limits line in polling stations, although the KPU has guaranteed they will be given sufficient access to assess the election process.

"For us, the point is not whether we must be inside polling stations or not. We have been told that we will be allowed to see voters bring their voter registration cards, punch ballot papers in the polling booth without interference, put their fingers in the indelible ink, and see that ballot papers are signed or stamped," he told reporters after the press conference.

Other international institutions that have registered with the KPU are the U.S. embassy in Indonesia, South African embassy in Indonesia, and the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES).

So far, some 12 election monitoring institutions have been accredited by the KPU. Among the accredited institutions are Transparency International Indonesia (TII), Forum Rektor, the Election Concern Society (Mapelu), and 68H radio station.

The deadline for the registration of election monitors by the KPU is March 10. The country's legislative elections will be held on April 5.