U.S. provides $24m for elections

U.S. provides $24m for elections

JAKARTA: U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Ralph L. Boyce handed
over on Thursday financial assistance worth US$24 million for the
upcoming elections to the General Elections Commission (KPU).

"It is a tremendous undertaking (the elections). We are
providing assistance to our fellow country Indonesia, and yet,
the foreign assistance is a tiny part of the overall cost of the
elections, which will be three times the 1999 election," Boyce
told reporters.

Boyce reiterated that his government was concerned about the
process of the first direct elections in the country.

"As long as the process if free, fair and peaceful, it will be
a victory for everyone. We are very concerned about the process.
We really mean that," he said in a press conference.

The press conference was attended by KPU Chairman Nazaruddin
Syamsuddin, KPU member Hamid, Awaluddin and USAID representative
William Frej.

Frej said the financial assistance was dedicated for voter
education, to support some four million vote monitors, to provide
assistance for disabled voters as well as to boost women's
representation in the elections.

Indonesia will hold a legislative election in April 2004 and
its first ever direct presidential election in July 2004. -- JP