U.S. poll watchers in Palembang

U.S. poll watchers in Palembang

PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: Representatives of two American poll watchdogs, the Carter Center/National Institute Democratic (NID) and the International Republican Institute (IRI) arrived here on Tuesday.

Brent Preston of the Carter Center/NID and James Cecil of IRI met with M. Abduh, chairman of the South Sumatra provincial election committee on the same day.

Preston said he would place his volunteers, who will arrive in Palembang on June 5, throughout South Sulawesi, especially in areas believed to be prone to vote-rigging.

Carter Center/NID will cooperate with the Indonesian Rectors Forum. Meanwhile, Cecil said his organization had been observing preelection activities in Indonesia.

Neither of the two American watchdogs would reveal how many volunteers they will involve, Antara reported.