In Indonesia God blesses compromise

By Terry Lacey

(July 08, Jakarta, Sri Lanka Guardian) Jakarta Police chief Inspector General Wahyono cautioned the people of Jakarta to watch out for election clashes on polling day in the Indonesian presidential elections on July 8th amidst worries about a faulty election list and perceived security risks related to this, especially if polling stations run out of ballots. (Jakarta Post 07.07.09).

This is after the General Elections Commission (KPU) allegedly admitted that millions of people out of the 176 million eligible had not yet been registered to vote. A last minute compromise allows everyone with an ID to vote, even if not registered, but there reportedly may not be enough extra ballot papers if there is a real rush to the polls of non-registered voters.

It is certainly true that the lesson from two recent elections is that the management of the General Elections Commission should probably be sent to the Indonesian equivalent of Siberia (possibly a very high mountain in Papua with arctic conditions) to reflect upon their shortcomings.

The KPU has to be totally reorganized, because its lack of competence could have provoked problems that Indonesia does not want or need.

But Jakarta is not Tehran. Mario Masaya at the Parahyangan Catholic University in Bandung contrasted recent elections in India and Iran and concluded “We surely don’t want Indonesia in the same situation as Iran”. (Jakarta Post 04.07.09).

But Mario was cautious, “Indonesian people are unprepared for democracy in several ways.” He referred to previous election clashes in North Maluku and South Sumatra.

Harry Su, writing on the economic policies of the presidential candidates, commented, “Moderation is the avoidance of extremes. And this is what we believe will be on the cards for Indonesia in the next few years, no matter who is elected as the next president”. (Jakarta Post 02.07.09).

And Simon Marcus Gower wrote recently on the street carnival atmosphere in the Jakarta central business district as rival party supporters displayed flags and banners,

“Let us hope that the smiles and laughter, the fun and the freedom may continue, and be built upon through and after this election.”

But Iran remained at the back of peoples minds, as Simon continued,

“Recent elections have shown the ugly aftermath of elections not handled well leaving sizable parts of the public feeling excluded or cheated”.

To avoid this happening in Indonesia, the presidential candidates, or their representatives, all attended a last-minute meeting of the Indonesian Constitutional Court to solve the problem of a widely-perceived faulty electoral register.

The incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, slated to win the elections on the 8th, did not attend, but was represented and supported the conclusions of the meeting.

Megawati Soekarnoputri, leader of the Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), with her running mate ex-general Prabowo Subianto, leader of the Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) attended, along with incumbent Vice President Jusuf Kalla, of the Golkar Party, with his running mate ex-general Wiranto leader of the People´s Conscience Party (Hanura).

The opposition candidates had understandably complained bitterly about the list and were demanding action, such as last-minute revisions or even postponement.

After a two hour meeting all three groups of Presidential candidates agreed to run with the existing faulty voters list, so long as any Indonesian citizen of eligible age, anywhere in the world, producing a recognized ID or passport, but not on the registered list, should be able to cast his or her vote in this election.

This decision was then backed by the largest Muslim mass organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the Indonesian Bishops Conference (KWI) and the Chief of the Indonesian Council of Churches and then enacted into law by the Constitutional Court on Monday 6th July, two days before polling day on Wednesday 8th July.

In Indonesia God is merciful and blesses compromise. Lets hope he blessed the implementation of the compromise as well.

Terry Lacey is a development economist who writes from Jakarta on modernization in the Muslim world, investment and trade relations with the EU and Islamic banking.

-Sri Lanka Guardian