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