'No candidate followed rules exactly'

'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.