World wants fair elections: Carter

World wants fair elections: Carter

JAKARTA (JP): Former United States president Jimmy Carter said
a free and fair general election would encourage peace and
economic recovery in Indonesia.

In a brief statement following his 90-minute meeting with
President B.J. Habibie at Merdeka Palace on Thursday, Carter said
people all over the world hoped to see the June 7 elections run
in a free and fair manner for the sake of democracy, peace and
economic progress here.

Habibie said Carter was family friend. He said he visited
Carter at his home in Atlanta several years ago.

Later in the day, Habibie and his wife Hasri Ainun hosted a
private dinner for Carter and his wife, Rosalyn, at their private
residence in South Jakarta. The Carter's also brought along
daughter Amy.

During his busy schedule, Carter, on his first visit to watch
the preliminary election process here, also met with Minister of
Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas, members of the General Elections
Commission (KPU) and political leaders.

These included Golkar Party chairman Akbar Tandjung and
Crescent Star Party chairman Yusril Ihza Mahendra, member of the
National Commission on Human Rights Marzuki Darusman and
chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
Megawati Soekarnoputri.

On Friday, Carter met with chairman of the National Mandate
Party Amien Rais, United Development Party chairman Hamzah Haz
and Abdurrahman Wahid, better known as Gus Dur, chairman of the
largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama.

"I told Carter we have to watch for loopholes of poll fraud at
the lower administration level ... and the use of money to buy
influence of legislators who will choose the next president,"
Amien said after a 40-minute closed session with Carter.

Abdurrahman said riots would not obstruct the poll.

"I told Carter riots do not touch the vital frame of our
political system or the nation as a whole."

In a media conference on Thursday, Carter expressed his
guarded optimism that the upcoming elections would run freely and
fairly.

"There are doubts about the intention of the ruling party, but
I think their invitation to international observers to come here
is significant proof that they don't intend to cheat," Carter
told the conference at Borobudur Hotel.

He said the presence of foreign observers would have a great
deal of impact on international opinion.

"We have a unique capability and influence that others don't
share. We are here to help bring about the realization of the
dreams," he said.

"I cannot prejudge the poll. There may be violence, there may
be fraud in other parts. But I wouldn't come here if I were not
convinced that the President, the military leaders, members of
parliament, members of election commission, political parties and
domestic observers all are deeply committed to a free and fair
election," Carter said.

Neutral

He predicted that the Armed Forces would stay neutral in the
polling process, hoping to improve its bad image.

"This election is a test for that," he said.

Carter, who runs the Carter Center Policy Institute in
Atlanta, Georgia, said he would be here to visit about 20 polling
sites on balloting day. His delegation will arrive a few days
before June 7.

"International observers are willing to help but we will not
interfere with the process," he said.

In addition to poll monitoring activities, standardized
guidelines published by the International Foundation for Election
Systems (IFES), will be distributed to poll observers, he said.

Carter warned that a tainted election would be devastating to
economic prosperity here. A successful election, on the contrary,
would be a major encouragement to foreign investment returning to
the country, he said.

"And I would say the wealth of Indonesian business leaders
which may have gone to banks in Switzerland or other places will
come back to the country... if the country has a free and fair
election," he added.

Various foreign poll observers will be present during the June
polls, including those from the European Community, Japan, and
the National Democratic Institute, based in the United States.

Carter's delegation also plans to visit East Timor on
balloting day. He left the country on Friday. (prb/edt)