[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 144 (Thursday, November 3, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2269-E2270]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                DEMOCRATIZATION IN INDONESIA: A NEW ERA

                                 ______
                                 

                            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

[[Page E2270]]

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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