'No candidate followed rules exactly'

Among the foreign observers here for the runoff of Indonesia's first direct presidential election on Monday, the largest contingent consists of the 220 members of the European Union Election Observation Mission. The following are excerpts from an interview with its chief observer, Glyn Ford, who spoke to The Jakarta Post's M. Taufiqurrahman.

Question: How significant is Indonesia's election to the world at large and especially to the European Union itself?

We take the view that democratic countries are better partners and whatever we can do to encourage the process the better it will be. We will spend 5 million euros only to monitor the Indonesian election; if that helps a little to ensure a proper transition to democracy, it is very cheap.

After these five years of democratic development, do you consider that democracy has taken root in the country?

After a transition to democracy, we believe that the second election is the one that is the most important in the consolidation of democracy. I hope we will not be here in 2009, it will not be necessary, you would already have a democracy. Certainly it's not our plan to monitor all elections in Indonesia.

Given this make or break nature of the election runoff, does Monday's poll have greater potential for vote rigging?

We are well aware of such potential. The possibility of vote rigging could arise from problems that lie in the aggregation of votes at the subregency (district, subdistrict) level and not at the polling stations, and that is why we are leaving our long- term observers in the provinces until the votes get to the subregency.

Both campaign teams are as good and as bad as each other and we have to be aware of the reality that the Nationhood Coalition supporting (the incumbent) Megawati Soekarnoputri has control over the state machinery at the national down to regental level.

I am not saying that it is going to happen, but it is easier for the team and individuals within the campaign team to engage in fraudulent activities, not because they are worse people but because they have the opportunity.

Thus far, have your observers found any indication of misuse of state resources?

At this stage, nothing systematic has been found. The misuse of state resources will definitely affect the election result, but that it is one among many factors that have to be taken into account. I suspect that we are likely to see the same thing happening again in the runoff. We will closely monitor that.

Would you say that the contenders have complied with the election legislation and regulations?

None of the candidates and their supporters followed the regulations exactly. However, it is acceptable, even in our elections (in Europe) we have complaints. Moreover, there is a system that works, supported by the General Elections Commission (KPU), the Panwaslu (General Election Supervisory Committee) and the police, which uphold the regulations.

Do you see any possibility of violence following the announcement of the results?

I hope not, but it will happen if one party believes that it has lost unfairly. If the losing party accepts the defeat then it will be much easier. If there is a dispute that could lead to violence, the role of foreign observers could be quite important, to come out clearly by saying that that's not the case and it might help diffuse the situation.

However, we have reason to be optimistic because there has been no violence thus far.

What about the KPU's performance, do you see any types of interference in its work?

I have no view that the KPU was partial towards one candidate over another. They are impartial. There is some degree of incompetence, but that is very much different from partiality.

Does the KPU show any indications of being biased in favor of President Megawati?

The KPU is not biased in favor of Megawati or they would have made decisions based on that basis. I think some of their decisions benefited Megawati, but I don't think there is a plot. The KPU spent too much time in reaching an agreement with both campaign teams. Will the corruption allegations against the KPU have any impact on its credibility and on the election itself?

Even if the allegations are true, it will not have an impact on the election in the sense that it will be reflected in the election result. It may be true that someone within the KPU spent too much money for the ink, but it will not affect the election.

If the KPU spent twice what they have should have, then it is an issue of either incompetence or fraud. Even if the KPU is corrupt, you could still have a valid election. Has the supervisory committee, Panwaslu, lived up to the expectations of the public?

In many areas, the Panwaslu has played a very important role. However, the lines of responsibility should have been made clearer as there was a certain degree of confusion.

There should be a clearer mandate for the Panwaslu in the next election. Panwaslu should also be more proactive, rather than just waiting for complaints. If they see that something is wrong, then they could investigate at their own initiative.