Indonesia advises military regime on electoral reform

Wonderful. We now have the Government of Indonesia showing us how to do democracy.

This is a country which is just 5 seconds into democracy, having subjected their citizens to authoritarian rule, like forever.

And let's not forget the poor West Papuans who continue to be crushed under Indonesia's military might and not enjoy their own civil liberties while being totally shut out from exercising their rights to decide how their resources are used.

The illegal and treasonous Bainimarama, being the simpleton that he is, would be totally clueless about the fact that Indonesia wants to muscle themselves into the MSG alliance, which Fiji unfortunately now chairs.

Top Indonesia poll official briefs PM
writer : SOURCE: MINISTRY OF INFORMATION
3/3/2011

The Indonesian Electoral Commissioner Dr Abdul Aziz Ahmad briefed Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama, senior Cabinet ministers, acting supervisor of Elections, and members of the Military Council on the one day, one person, one vote election system practiced in Indonesia and which is proposed to be adapted in Fiji.

The briefing yesterday by Dr Ahmad, an academic by profession, is part and parcel of Government's plans of preparing for elections earmarked for 2014 as outlined in the Strategic Framework for Change and Roadmap for Democracy and Sustainable Socio-economic Development.

The visit was facilitated in collaboration with the Embassy of Indonesia in Fiji.

Under Indonesia's democratic voting system, the elections will be based on one citizen, one vote system, which is something similar to the proposed Proportional Representation List system to be used in the 2014 General Elections.

Dr Ahmad enlightened Government leaders on the new system, which has been a proven success in Indonesia.

Indonesia, the world's third-largest democracy, held its last two elections under the same system in 2004 and 2009.

Dr Ahmad said the system would be as successful in Fiji because of the demographic parallels the two countries share.

"Given the logistical and demographical parallels to Fiji as an archipelagic state, the Indonesian experience provides some introductory insights into the new electoral system that is also being proposed for Fiji in the near future," he said.

Meanwhile, members of the public were enlightened on the electoral system during a public audience at the University of the South Pacific last night.