Indonesia's elections

Indonesia's elections

Indonesia is the world's third largest democracy, and
yesterday some 140 million people went to the polls in the
country's first direct presidential election. Since the ousting
of President Soeharto six years ago, Indonesia has known little
but turbulence: The welcome independence of East Timor, political
instability in Jakarta, the collapse of the economy during the
Asian economic crisis and the rebellions against central
authority that have racked Aceh and the Moluccas islands, as well
as rising religious extremism culminating in the Bali bombs. Few
observers expected that an election spread across 15,000 islands
and three time zones would even be possible: violence, chaos,
corruption and boycotts seemed all too likely. Instead, Indonesia
has held an election that seems generally to have been orderly
and well planned, with responsible, enthusiastic voter
participation.

It is too early to say that the election was without any
violence; yesterday soldiers clashed with separatist rebels
trying to disrupt the poll in Aceh, killing one of them. And
there may be attempts in some provinces to stuff ballot boxes or
delay results. But on the whole, this election says much about
the maturity of the voters, the nation's weariness with violence
and the compatibility of democracy with moderate Islam.
-- The Times, London