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International observers praise Jakarta election
Special guest: A representative from the Czech Embassy in Jakarta, Jakub Cerny (left), listens to an explanation from a Jakarta General Elections Commissions official about the city’s gubernatorial election at a women’s prison in Pondok Bambu, Jakarta, on Wednesday
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span class="inline inline-center">Special guest: A representative from the Czech Embassy in Jakarta, Jakub Cerny (left), listens to an explanation from a Jakarta General Elections Commissions official about the city’s gubernatorial election at a women’s prison in Pondok Bambu, Jakarta, on Wednesday.(JP/Donny Fernando)
Despite heightened sectarian tension that has been simmering since late last year, the Jakarta gubernatorial election has been praised by international envoys and observers for its peaceful voting day on Wednesday.
Some 51 international envoys, including 12 ambassadors, from 29 countries joined the entourage of the General Election Commission (KPU) in observing several polling stations on Wednesday.
Sri Lanka Ambassador to Indonesia HE Darmas Parera said Jakarta citizens had successfully demonstrated a very peaceful election worthy of applause.
He also praised the election’s organizers for managing the election.
“I commend the fact that people here are able to express their views during a very well-managed election,” Parera told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday during a visit to a polling station at Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSCM) in Central Jakarta with KPU chairman Arief Budiman and several commissioners.
The entourage then visited Pondok Bambu Women’s Penitentiary in East Jakarta, where 293 inmates voted, and a low-cost apartment near Kampung Pulo in Jatinegara, East Jakarta.
Parera was amazed by the fact that Indonesia facilitated prisoners and hospital patients voting by providing accessible polling stations.
“The voting facilities in the prison and the hospital are important because those who are in prison should be able to exercise their voting rights. They’re still given the right to vote. I think it’s very valuable,” Parera said.
In Sri Lanka, a country which also adopts democratic principals and has periodic elections with similar systems to Indonesia, there are no facilities for those who are on medical care, unless they go to designated polling booths for registration.
“But it must be done by the people,” Parera said.
An attache from the Swiss Embassy, who requested anonymity, was amazed by the euphoria of the election after observing how excited the residents of the low-cost apartments were to vote at a polling station in the apartments, which was decorated with balloons.
“The election seems to be well-organized. It’s crowded, but I think if it’s crowded, it’s a good sign. That shows people are interested. They came to vote,” she told the Post.
In Switzerland, she said, people can vote on three levels — village, city and province. They are also allowed to vote for parliament members on the national level.
“Technically everyone [in Switzerland] can vote but not everyone does,” she said. “We can vote by mail or we can go to the voting center. Sometimes it’s crowded, [but] sometimes no one is there.”
Arief said that such enthusiasm should be maintained in every election.
“Our electoral system may change as time goes by, but such enthusiasm should stay. Also, we have to maintain our democratic practice. I’m glad to show our friends from other countries how the city ran the election,” Arief said.
