NAMFREL: RI EXAMPLE IN RESPECTING PRISONERS' POLITICAL RIGHT

Jakarta, July 11 (ANTARA) - An international election monitoring body, the Asian Network for Free Elections (Namfrel), said the Indonesian general elections were an example to other countries with regard to prisoners' right to vote.

Namfrel executive director Somsri Hanasuntasuk said here on Saturday the recognition of prisoners' right to vote in the Indonesian presidential election was something that did not exist in many other countries including the USA.

"Indonesia has set a good example by appreciating prisoners as human beings who have the right to vote to determine their country's future," he said.

He said countries that did not give the political right to vote to prisoners were among others Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia and the US.

The political right to vote for presidential and vice presidential candidates of prisoners in Indonesia had improved compared to the general elections in 2004.

"At the time only prisoners sentenced to less than five years were allowed to vote but their opportunity has now been opened wider," he said.

Somsri said it was appropriate for politicians to also pay attention to prisoners because they could also affect vote collection of legislative or executive candidates in elections.

"They certainly contribute to help candidates win with their votes," he said.

Somsri also appreciated the process of ballot casting in one of the prisons in Indonesia where election officials showed that the ballots were clean before voters cast them.

"This is an example in transparency," he said.

Anfrel on July 8 monitored polling at the women's penitentiary in Pondok Bambu, East Jakarta, and at the Salemba prison.