Democratization in Indonesia: A New Era

Floor Speech

DEMOCRATIZATION IN INDONESIA: A NEW ERA -- (Extensions of Remarks - November 03, 2005)

SPEECH OF
HON. JOE WILSON
OF SOUTH CAROLINA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2005

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, over the last several years, Indonesia has entered a new era of democracy. At the national level, the Indonesian people voted freely in an open and fair 2004 Presidential election for the first time in that country's history. The election campaign was vigorous, with public debates and ample discussion of issues among the main candidates. There was no significant violence or attempts at voter intimidation. International election observers as well as domestic monitors reported that the election in Indonesia was conducted fairly. Voter turnout in the general election was very high, about 80 percent.

More recently, another major step forward in democracy is taking place in Indonesia. Regional and local elections have recently been held throughout this vast country of more than 17,000 islands. As before, in last year's presidential election, some observers predicted that local elections would lead to communal conflict. But they were wrong. Nationwide local elections conducted in June went off smoothly although there were tensions among ethnic and religious groups in a few districts. But the security forces maintained order and enforced fair elections. I am informed that of 166 regional districts, 116 succeeded in conducting orderly local elections. Although sporadic, minimal violence did occur in about 16 districts, it was brief and quickly controlled by the police. As in the presidential election last year, according to reports I have seen, voter participation in the local elections was very high, nearly 74 percent.

Indonesian officials recognized openly that there are some weaknesses to be fixed. One is the difficulty in quickly counting the votes in some districts. This case could and did give rise to allegations made by losing candidates, charging that the election was unfair and manipulated. The government intends to work with district officials to improve election procedures, especially voter tallies.

In West Papua there appears to have been no violence or conflicts during the local elections. Reports indicated that elections were successfully held in 14 districts in West Papua. People came out to vote for their candidates to regional councils and exercised their right to choose the local leaders they prefer. Regarding elections for a regional governor, I am told the West Papuans are waiting for the establishment of the People's Council of Papua before conducting the election. This council will be the highest representative body of West Papua and will have authority to select the candidates for governor of Papua. But, even while awaiting the establishment of the council, the process to nominate some candidates to be governor of Papua is proceeding. I am informed that the Special Commission of the District Parliament of Papua is developing preparations for elections for regional governor. When those preparations are completed, the Commission will send a list of candidates to the People's Council of Papua to be selected to participate in the election.

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the government and people of Indonesia for this new and highly important step in instituting democracy in this great country. Regardless of the difficulties encountered in conducting local elections throughout this vast nation, the Administration of President Yudhoyono and the regional authorities demonstrated determination to follow the path to democracy. Just as important, the Indonesian people responded by coming out to the polls in huge numbers. Indonesia deserves high praise for its remarkable accomplishments in breaking with a legacy of dictatorship, and ethnic and religious strife, to successfully implement democratic principles.

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