Foreign election observers

An honest and fair general election is one of the instruments that can save Indonesia. And since the presence of independent observers is needed to ensure that this goal is achieved, Japan, the United States, Britain, France, the Netherlands and Belgium are feeling called upon to offer their help.

The government should regard such foreign involvement in the general election procedures as a token of their willingness to help Indonesia accelerate its democratization process. If the upcoming general election does, indeed, proceed honestly and fairly, and the fact is recognized by those countries' governments, then the international legitimacy of the new Indonesian government that is to be formed will be assured.

On the international forum, Indonesia would then no longer be accused of being antidemocratic. Another advantage would be that our own independent observers would have partners to work with. All this would make the upcoming 1999 general election accepted by all and that would greatly help to accelerate the process of building a sound and mature democracy.

-- Jawa Pos, Surabaya