No foreigners apply to observe the upcoming general election
No foreigners apply to observe the upcoming general election
JAKARTA (JP): No foreigners have so far expressed any interest
to witness the May 29 election, but Indonesia is keeping its door
open, an official said.
Sutoyo N.K., the director-general of sociopolitical affairs at
the Ministry of Home Affairs, said here yesterday the government
has yet to receive applications for permits to monitor the
election.
"But we are keeping our door open. Anyone wishing to witness
the election is welcome," Sutoyo said after accompanying the
Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie S.M. attending a pre-
campaign ceremony yesterday.
He said foreign observers wishing to witness the general
election must ask for sociocultural visas from Indonesian
embassies abroad.
"This also applies to those coming from countries which enjoy
the tourist visa-free facility from the Indonesian government,"
he said, adding that after obtaining their visas, the foreigners
still have to apply for a permit from the Ministry of Home
Affairs and the General Election Institute.
The two institutions then issue identity cards to the
foreigners, Sutoyo said. "They can then see the general election
across the country."
The government previously said it would invite foreign
observers to the poll. It later reversed its stance and said it
had no plans to invite any foreigners. But from the start it said
it would keep its doors open for foreigners wishing to witness
the election.
Yogie said there was nothing wrong with the three political
groups opening web sites and launching campaign activities on the
Internet. "That's okay," he said.
He said there would be institutions responsible for the
supervision of campaign themes on the Internet, probably from the
police.
Some 124 million people are expected to cast their vote on May
29. They will elect members of the House of Representatives in
the election, held once every five years.
The three political parties -- the United Development Party
(PPP), Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) -- start
campaigning Sunday. The campaign will end five days before the
election. This five-day "cooling off" period is allocated for the
General Election Committee to make final preparations for ballot
day.
Yogie said the government is not worried about people who
chose not to vote. "We have conducted a number of general
elections, and have always managed to record voter turnouts of
more than 90 percent," he said.
"The way I see it, the situation as we're getting closer to
the general election looks fine. Okay, so there are shortcomings
here and there, but that's normal and are usually the internal
problems of a political party," he said. (imn/swe)