SUCCESSFUL INDONESIAN ELECTIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 JAKARTA 000656 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EAP/MLS, EAP/RSP; NSC FOR E.PHU E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/09/2019 TAGS: PGOV KDEM ID SUBJECT: SUCCESSFUL INDONESIAN ELECTIONS REF: JAKARTA 00647 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Charge d'Affaires John A.Heffern,reasons 1.4(b+d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Indonesia's legislative elections proceeded in a largely peaceful, orderly manner despite a few isolated incidents in Papua and Aceh. Emboffs and NGO observers at sites across the country sent in reports on the voting process, which seemed slow but smooth. Some preliminary "quick" counts indicate that President Yudhoyono's Partai Demokrat (PD) has an early (and unconfirmed) lead of about 20 percent of the vote, with its two main rivals garnering about 15 percent each. Counting is going smoothly and is expected to be finished by midnight, but official results will take time to dribble out. Septels review the situation in Papua and Aceh. END SUMMARY. ELECTIONS LARGELY PEACEFUL, ORDERLY ¶2. (SBU) Emboffs and Carter Center election observers spread out across Indonesia characterized the process as strikingly ordinary. Election officials led an orderly process, with polls opening mostly on time and closing on time. The voting process was slow but relatively smooth. Some voters waited up to 40 minutes to cast their votes. Most took over five minutes to unfold, fill out, and re-fold the four unwieldy, poster-size ballots for national and regional legislatures and provincial and local councils. Voters seemed relaxed and the process was peaceful, with no tensions reported. Elections in Aceh also were smooth and violence-free, while some violence marred Papua the night before election day (see septels). ¶3. (SBU) Logistical problems occurred and some irregularities were reported, but most did not disrupt the process. Several polling stations in Surabaya, Papua, and elsewhere did not receive ballot materials on time, so opened and closed late. Voter lists continued to be a concern. Some voters were turned away because their names were not on the lists, but electoral officials had already told most of the unregistered voters not to show up. However, some voters who were not on the list at a particular booth were told they could still vote--but under other people's names (those deceased or listed twice). ¶4. (C) International Elections Foundation and International Republican Institute both noted some concerns about reconciliation of unused ballots, many of which remained in uncounted piles next to poll workers as they had lunch. The counting process will take time although it is legally required to end by midnight. A PEACEFUL SCENE AT PRESIDENT'S OLD SCHOOL ¶5. (SBU) Charge observed the poll opening at the Jakarta Besuki School, which proudly bears a "President Obama went to school here" plaque. The voting process was organized and transparent. At 7 am, voters entered, checked their names at the registry table and sat to await their turn in chairs facing the four metal voting booths. Six party witnesses sat off to the side. (Note: All thirty-eight national parties--and six local Aceh parties--were invited to have witnesses, but at most stations only 5-10 witnesses showed up.) Candidate lists were clearly displayed on a bulletin board. Security officials carried the three ballot boxes to the table, opened them one by one, and showed them to the witnesses. Administrators, security and voters at Besuki School all seemed familiar with the process, despite the complexity of choosing candidates from hundreds of names. Following an Islamic blessing for a peaceful and smooth election day, voters went to the metal polling booths. After filling out and stuffing (literally) the three ballots into the boxes, they dipped one finger in a small bottle of ink before leaving. RESULTS DRIBBLE IN ¶6. (U) Early quick count results from the most reliable survey institute, Lembaga Survei Institute, indicated that with 40 percentage of the vote counted, President Yudhoyono's PD leads with about 20%, while the Indonesian Party of Democratic Struggle (PDI-P) and Golkar follow with about 15% each. Islamic-oriented parties are ranked 4-7 in the early quick count. The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) was fourth at 8%, for example. The National Mandate Party (PAN) had 6%, former President Abdurahman Wahid's National Awakening Party (PKB) had 5%, and the United Development Party (PPP) had 5%. JAKARTA 00000656 002 OF 002 ¶7. (U) The two new parties run by retired Generals Prabowo and Wiranto (Gerindra and Hanura) lagged at 4-5%, but that means that both of them would cross the national threshold of 2.5% and get seats in the Parliament should these trends hold up. Sixty percent of the vote has not yet been calculated by the quick count, so these preliminary results are likely to change. ¶8. (U) Although quick counts are now flowing in from several survey institutes, they remain preliminary. Basic trends in the race should be known in the next 12-24 hours. Official results are not expected until May 8. HEFFERN