The 2004 election

I have participated in several general elections before the upcoming elections and as far as I can remember everything went smoothly and there was not many problems, even during the preparations. So it is surprising for me that so many problems popped up this time, some of which are difficult to understand.

The structure of the government is the same only the officials are different, the increase in the population is not that much, but perhaps the increase in the number of political parties and the interpretation of democracy with freedom of expression attached to it and the difficult economic situation may be part of the reason. This is the very first time the elections will be participated by so many political organizations led by so many newcomers. But fortunately the political parties have pledged to avoid violence especially during the campaign period.

One thing is still troubling me and may disrupt the general election, and that is the "administrative" side, the provision of the necessary materials for the elections such as ballot papers, election boxes and other material vital for the election. We have heard that boxes are not ready, the distribution of those materials is still not smooth and the election committee has asked the army to help in the distribution, especially in the remote areas.

The Center for Electoral Reform (CETRO) has warned of a delay in the elections in some areas after the General Elections Commission (KPU) set a March 30 deadline for ballot papers to reach polling stations, five days behind the initial schedule.

People should be timely informed of what they have to do when it is election time. Another question mark is the campaigning. If political parties start "attacking" each other, then we might have trouble. But I am sure that this has already been considered and the political parties will heed the appeal from the military commander not to use military attributes and not let their task force members become violent.

Let us hope for the best and show to the world that our nation is politically mature and that in this reform era we can do better than the New Order.

SOEGIH ARTO Jakarta