EU deploy 190 election monitors to Indonesia

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.