Tedious work ahead

Tedious work ahead

The Indonesian general election is over and people feel
relieved that we have passed another critical milestone on the
road to a better future for this great nation. Now we are faced
with the detailed and tedious task of counting and verifying the
votes. Indication of election fraud during this process has not
yet emerged because of the attention and monitoring that has been
given to this crucial job. I express my uncounted thanks to the
volunteers who have dedicated their time to achieve a fair and
honest election through the diligence and concern applied every
moment of this process.

My hope, and that of most Indonesians, is that the results of
this election are truly honest and fairly represent the will of
the people. It is also hoped that the monitoring by University
Network for Free and Fair Elections (Unfrel), the Independent
Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP), student groups and others
is not diminished by the fatigue and boredom of processing the
numbers, because the future of this country rests on their
shoulders. Stick to the principle of truth and fairness, for this
is the only path to the future, free from corruption and
injustice.

To the foreign observers, please do not leave until the
results are final because a relaxation of the monitoring might
invite fraud and unwanted intervention by those attempting to
make the election results agree with their own twisted political
agenda.

Thank you my fellow Indonesians, for we have shown the world
that we really can have a fair and clean election. But the end of
this process can only be achieved when the last vote is counted
by the volunteer election workers, who deserve our patience and
greatest support.

ROLAND M. SUTRISNO

Jakarta