215 Foreign Observers To Monitor Presidential Election

Jakarta, July 8 (Antara) - Some 215 foreign observers will monitor the implementation of the Indonesian presidential election to be held throughout the country on July 9, 2014. "We appreciate the presence of foreign observers. Thank you for your care. With the presence of a large number of observers, we believe that the presidential and vice presidential elections will run fairly, honestly, and transparently," Commissioner of the National General Elections Committee (KPU) Hadar Nafis Gumay stated here on Monday. The committee held a coordination meeting with representatives of the institutions that brought the observers to Indonesia, in order to discuss the preparations and facilities needed by the 215 foreign observers who will monitor the implementation of the presidential election in several regions such as Jakarta, Aceh, Yogyakarta, Semarang (Central Java), West Java, Banten, and East Java. The observers are coordinating with the International Foundation for Electoral System (IFES), the Institute for Peace and Democracy (IPD) and the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Stiftung Fur Die Freiheit, the International IDEA-Asia and the Pacific Regional Program, PT Indra Indonesia Menara BCA, the Grouping for General Elections and Democracy (Perludem), and the Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL) Foundation. KPU Chairman Husni Kamil Manik informed the foreign observers that the general election was an important event held every five years in Indonesia. The government, however, also ensured that the Indonesian nationals living abroad were also able to exercise their right to vote in the legislative and presidential elections, Manik remarked. The KPU in cooperation with the Foreign Affairs Ministry has set up 130 overseas general election committees based in Indonesian embassies and consulate general offices, he affirmed. Indonesia will conduct a democratic presidential election on July 9, 2014, which will be contested by two pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates: Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa and Joko Widodo (Jokowi)-Jusuf Kalla (JK). Prabowo Subianto is a retired military general and the founder of the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), while his running mate, Hatta Rajasa, is a former coordinating minister for economic affairs and the chairman of the National Mandate Party (PAN). Jokowi is Jakarta`s governor and a cadre of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), while his running mate, JK, is a former vice president and a senior politician of the Golkar Party.