Jakarta, Dec 9 (Antara) - Indonesia, the world's third largest democracy, showcased its democratic process to the world on Wednesday when it held its first simultaneous regional head elections (Pilkada), a day before a world democracy forum opens in Bali.
The country's General Elections Commission (KPU) recorded that some 100,461,890 eligible voters were expected to cast votes to elect 800 pairs of regional head candidates in 264 regions across the country.
The candidates were running for posts of eight governors and vice governors, 222 district heads and their deputies, and 34 mayors and their deputies. If successful, it will become the first such election in the world.
"If the Indonesian Pilkada is successful it will become the first simultaneous local election in the world and will be a role model for democratic countries," Easti Handayani, the director general for Public Diplomacy Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated on Wednesday.
After all, the local elections, held simultaneously across the country, were organized only one day before the 8th Bali Democracy Forum (BDF), set to be opened by Vice President Jusuf Kalla.
A total of 83 countries and three international organizations will be taking part in the annual Asia-Pacific forum. Of the participating countries, three states---the Philippines, Singapore, and Timor Leste---will send their ministers, while 16 others will be represented by their deputy ministers. The democracy forum, which began in 2008, has become a strategic agenda platform in the region.
Therefore, with the Pilkada being held on the occasion of the world democracy forum, Indonesia has showcased its democratic process before the world.
The local elections held simultaneously in 264 regions make Indonesia an example of good democracy in the world, according to director general Esti Handayani. She made the statement in a press briefing on the BDF forum in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Wednesday evening.
A number of the BDF delegates observed the Pilkada process at a number of polling stations in Benoa Village, Kuta District, the tourist resort province of Bali, on Wednesday.
"They wanted to see directly how we organize the Pilkada democratic process, right from administering oath to polling officials to counting of votes," I Ketut Putra Erawan, the executive director of the Institute for Peace and Democracy, said while accompanying the delegates during election process.
Some 15 BDF delegates visited four polling stations in South Kuta. "After observing the process from morning till the counting of votes, they said the election had proceeded peacefully and calmly," said I Ketut Putra Erawan.
Alwyn Buro, a delegate of the BDF from the Philippines, said the election was held in a very open and transparent manner.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said the implementation of the Pilkada just a day before the Bali forum would help demonstrate before the delegates how democracy was being carried out in Indonesia.
"This showed the delegates how democracy works in Indonesia. We have carried out direct elections, not only at the national level for electing a president and legislators but also at the regional level for choosing regional heads," Minister Retno said in Bali on Wednesday evening.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the simultaneous elections were conducted in a very efficient manner and made it possible to reduce the cost incurred, compared to what it would have cost if these had not been held simultaneously, as had been happening in the past.
"This time, it was more efficient because it reduced the cost. The elections conducted this way do not need huge amount of funds and cause no conflicts. In the past, we always had a local election every week," Kalla said.
In the meantime, Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said people in Wednesday Pilkada participated enthusiastically with the number of voters exercising their right having registered a significant increase.
"Reports received indicate that the participation of the people in the regional head elections has been very encouraging. In Semarang, for example, more than 70 percent had cast their votes," Minister Tjahjo said as he inspected the implementation of the regional head elections (Pilkada) in Semarang, Central Java, on Wednesday.
However, he also predicted that while people's participation was increasing, malpractices such as instances of money being offered to the voters in lieu of their votes were also likely to increase.
Based on reports, instances of such money politics were reported from three Pilkada places in Semarang, he said. "In Semarang, voters participated in high numbers, but then, instances of such bribery were also rampant," the home affairs minister stated.
He said the truth about such electoral fraud would be evaluated and it will also be studied if such practices have become more rampant, compared to previous years. The findings should also become a reference for issuance of new laws in the future.
Before he monitored the Pilkada process in Semarang, Tjahjo Kumolo have previously observed the implementation the Pilkada at the Polling Station No. 17 located in Alam Sutera, Serpong Sub-district, South Tangerang, Banten Province.
"The government has declared December 9 a national holiday. We hope that people could use their voting rights in the elections," Tjahjo Kumolo said.
The local elections process was also monitored by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi).
"Until now, the president is constantly monitoring and receiving reports from the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, the home affairs minister, and the national police chief," Ari Dwipayana of the presidential communication team noted in a statement.
Earlier, President Jokowi had remarked that the first-ever simultaneous Pilkada 2015 is a new experience for the Indonesian people.
Therefore, the head of state has urged the Indonesian people in 264 regions organizing simultaneous Pilkada to actively participate in the elections.
"Do not forget to visit the polling stations. Do not forget to select Indonesian leaders who will be chosen by you, the people themselves," Jokowi affirmed, Monday.
The president instructed the home affairs minister and the national police chief to ensure that the pilkada was organized peacefully.
"I urge everyone to maintain order and remain calm," he emphasized.
The winners should not show arrogance, and the losers must not become disappointed and upset, he remarked.
"If there is a disagreement regarding the elections' results, I hope it would be handled peacefully, democratically, and maturely in line with the existing regulations," Jokowi stated.***2***(a014/INE)EDITED BY INE(T.A014/B/BESSR/A. Abdussalam) 09-12-2015 21:55:27 |
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