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Calls mount for fair election
Hi-tech: A worker loads a ballot box onto a three-wheeled bajaj in Menteng Pulo, Jakarta, on Tuesday
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Hi-tech: A worker loads a ballot box onto a three-wheeled bajaj in Menteng Pulo, Jakarta, on Tuesday. The provision of ballots and voting equipment to polling stations across Greater Jakarta has been completed without any major glitches in readiness for todayâs election. (JP/Nurhayati) (JP/Nurhayati)
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span class="inline inline-none">Hi-tech: A worker loads a ballot box onto a three-wheeled bajaj in Menteng Pulo, Jakarta, on Tuesday. The provision of ballots and voting equipment to polling stations across Greater Jakarta has been completed without any major glitches in readiness for today's election. (JP/Nurhayati)
As the stage is set for more than 185 million eligible voters to select their representatives today, election authorities have been warned over potential violations that could have a negative impact on the fairness and credibility of the election.
A female voter in Palembang, South Sumatra, told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday that people representing several legislative candidates had visited voters in her neighborhood and had given each person up to Rp 35,000 (US$3.1) in exchange for his or her vote.
'Most of my neighbors took the money. I took it as well but I'm still not sure whether I will vote for the candidates or not,' said the voter, who declined to be named.
South Sumatra Elections Monitoring Agency (Bawaslu) head Andika Pranata Jaya confirmed that the committee had found indications of vote-buying practices in Palembang, Ogan Ilir and Ogan Komering Ilir ahead of polling day.
Such election bribery immediately prior to voting is known locally as serangan fajar, or dawn attack, and has been widely practiced by recalcitrant legislative candidates since the 1998 Reform Era.
'Our officials found such cases in Palembang, but the suspected perpetrators quickly fled the scene,' Andika said.
The practice has also been noted in poorer areas of Central Java, including in Batang and Sukoharjo regencies. 'We're still investigating which candidates have committed the offenses,' said Central Java Bawaslu head Abhan Misbah.
Politicians have long demanded that officials from the General Elections Commission (KPU) uphold professionalism and fairness in handling elections, particularly over the management of the final voter list (DPT), election material distribution and vote-counting mechanisms.
Jakarta Governor Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle's (PDI-P) presidential candidate, released a strong statement containing four points regarding election fairness.
'First, the KPU should be independent. Second, the commission should ensure that the IT system is not rigged. Third, there should be assurances from the intelligence agencies, as well as security and defense personnel on their adherence to neutrality. Fourth, the authorities should ensure that there is no vote-buying,' said Jokowi.
The world's third-largest democracy after India and the US will hold a legislative election today in which voters will cast their ballots to elect 560 legislators to the House of Representatives and more than 18,000 local councilors.
After the election, voters will return to the ballot box to select a new president on July 9.
The National Police have deployed 60 percent of their personnel to safeguard the election across the archipelago, with the Indonesian Military (TNI) on standby.
Following increased election-related violence between February and early April, the Indonesia Police Watch (IPW) has warned election organizers and security forces to pay attention to eight areas that are prone to conflict during and after elections: Jakarta, Aceh, South Sumatra, Yogyakarta, West Nusa Tenggara, Central Sulawesi, Maluku and Papua.
Separately, Jakarta Deputy Governor Basuki 'Ahok' Tjahaja Purnama called on residents not to abstain. 'Pick the best of a bad bunch but don't be an abstainer because that way you will help bad people hold on to power,' Ahok said.
Ahok will cast his vote at a polling station (TPS) near his parents' home in Muara Karang, North Jakarta, while Jokowi is slated to vote at TPS 27 inside Surapati Park, near his official residence in Menteng, Central Jakarta.
Gerindra Party chief patron Prabowo Subianto is listed as a voter at his residence in Hambalang, Bogor regency, while President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will cast his vote in Cikeas, Bogor, West Java.
Former vice president Jusuf Kalla and family will cast their ballots in Pulo subdistrict, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, while Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie will vote at a TPS near his residence in Menteng.
National Awakening Party (PKB) chairman Muhaimin Iskandar is listed as a voter at TPS 11 in Kemang, South Jakarta while Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) chairman Anis Matta is listed at TPS 041 in Utan Kayu, East Jakarta.
National Mandate Party (PAN) chairman Hatta Rajasa will cast his ballot in Palembang, South Sumatra.
