Local MEP, Nirj Deva has today (Wednesday) been appointed as the Chairman of the European Parliament Observation Team for the Indonesian General Election.

With the country stretching lengthways the distance east to west of London to Turkey the MEP will be responsible for a team of more than two hundred European Parliament members and officials with further representatives attending from Japan and the US-based Carter Institute.

Indonesia’s 147 million eligible voters will vote on April 5^th in a series of polls to fill more than 16,000 positions in local and provincial councils, the national parliament and the office of President.

Speaking from the European Parliament in Brussels, Nirj Deva said:

“I am delighted to have been asked to take on such a crucial role in ensuring that the highest standards are upheld in the casting and counting of ballots in the Indonesian General Election.

“It is an honour to have been asked to Chair the delegation from the European Parliament who will oversee what is the first full set of elections since the fall of General Suharto’s thirty year dictatorship.

“The elections will be a crucial test for the Indonesia after a series of democratic innovations and I am proud to have been asked to play such a crucial role in ensuring their fairness”.

Notes To Editors

• The country has a total of 300 different regional languages and a total population of 219.9 million
• General Suharto fell from power after widespread rioting in 1998. During his years in Government elections were ‘stage managed’, yet democracy was effectively denied.
• Megawati Sukarnoputri has served as President since 2001 following the resignation of President Abdurrahman Wahid.
• For the first time, the next national parliament will be fully elected after the police and military gave up their 38 reserved seats. The national parliament will be chosen through an open list proportional to the representation system. Official "paper" results are to be announced by 28 April, but a computerised count is expected to give an unofficial result within two days of voting