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.