Foreign embassies to monitor polls

JAKARTA: Eight foreign embassies are among 12 overseas agencies registered by the General Elections Commission (KPU) as monitors of the April 5 polls.

The embassies represent the United States, Russia, South African, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Pakistan, Yemen, Canada and Japan.

The other four foreign agencies are the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), the International Republican Institute (IRI), the Asia Foundation and the Carter Center.

Of the 12 agencies, only the U.S. and Russian Embassies have submitted the necessary documents. Registration is open until March 10 and the required forms should be returned to the KPU three days after the last day of registration on March 13.

There are 84 organizations registered with the KPU to assist in election monitoring. -- JP