Tuesday, July 28, 2009 JAKARTA: Indonesian opposition leader Megawati Sukarnoputri launched a Constitutional Court challenge Tuesday to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's re-election victory.The daughter of independence hero Sukarno has refused to accept the results of the July 8 polls, which she lost in a landslide to ex-general Yudhoyono, just as she lost the previous election to him in 2004.She claims millions of voters -- out of around 170 million who eligible in the world's third-biggest democracy -- were disenfranchised by inaccurate voter lists and insufficient polling booths in key districts."First, we want a second-round presidential election run-off or at least SBY has to bring back the people's trust by competing in the run-off with us," Megawati's legal adviser, Arteria Dahlan, said, using Yudhoyono's nickname."Second, if that's not granted, then we want the vote to be counted again across Indonesia."Third, we have proof that there were problems in 25 provinces, so we want the presidential election to be held again in those 25 provinces."Ex-president Megawati, 62, also complained about irregularities before April general elections, which were deemed valid and which saw Yudhoyono's centrist Democrat Party triple its vote to become the strongest group in parliament.She raised similar concerns ahead of the presidential polls and suggested the Democrats were trying to rig the ballot.But she also accepted a Constitutional Court ruling two days before the election which allowed people to vote with their identity cards, in a bid to solve the problem of incomplete voter lists.Dahlan said the election commission (KPU) had been negligent."What we are after is the KPU itself. What we criticise is the KPU's neglect that has impacted on our vote," he said.Official results announced by the KPU on Saturday gave Yudhoyono 60.8 percent of the vote, far ahead of Megawati with 26.8 percent and Vice President Jusuf Kalla with 12.4 percent.But Megawati believes she has won 35.09 percent compared to 48.70 percent for Yudhoyono, close enough to force the pair to contest a run-off in September, her chief legal adviser Gayus Lumbuun said.Kalla has also challenged the results at the Constitutional Court, saying millions of people were left off the official voter lists.He said his challenge was about protecting the future of democracy in a country that emerged from 32 years of dictatorship only 11 years ago."It's not a matter of winning or losing," Antara news agency quoted him as saying at an event at his Makassar residence called "JK goes home -- JK hero of democracy"."The principle is that this nation must progress properly, honestly and democratically, because the democratic process must be implemented correctly and fairly."World leaders have congratulated Yudhoyono on his re-election, including US President Barack Obama, who described the vote as "free and fair".The former general told reporters ahead of a meeting with his senior ministers on Tuesday that the legal process should take its course.But he also said people could judge for themselves "what is logical and not logical"."I believe that whatever political dynamics happen, there will be a settlement, the best solution will be found," he said.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 JAKARTA: Indonesian opposition leader Megawati Sukarnoputri launched a Constitutional Court challenge Tuesday to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's re-election victory.The daughter of independence hero Sukarno has refused to accept the results of the July 8 polls, which she lost in a landslide to ex-general Yudhoyono, just as she lost the previous election to him in 2004.She claims millions of voters -- out of around 170 million who eligible in the world's third-biggest democracy -- were disenfranchised by inaccurate voter lists and insufficient polling booths in key districts."First, we want a second-round presidential election run-off or at least SBY has to bring back the people's trust by competing in the run-off with us," Megawati's legal adviser, Arteria Dahlan, said, using Yudhoyono's nickname."Second, if that's not granted, then we want the vote to be counted again across Indonesia."Third, we have proof that there were problems in 25 provinces, so we want the presidential election to be held again in those 25 provinces."Ex-president Megawati, 62, also complained about irregularities before April general elections, which were deemed valid and which saw Yudhoyono's centrist Democrat Party triple its vote to become the strongest group in parliament.She raised similar concerns ahead of the presidential polls and suggested the Democrats were trying to rig the ballot.But she also accepted a Constitutional Court ruling two days before the election which allowed people to vote with their identity cards, in a bid to solve the problem of incomplete voter lists.Dahlan said the election commission (KPU) had been negligent."What we are after is the KPU itself. What we criticise is the KPU's neglect that has impacted on our vote," he said.Official results announced by the KPU on Saturday gave Yudhoyono 60.8 percent of the vote, far ahead of Megawati with 26.8 percent and Vice President Jusuf Kalla with 12.4 percent.But Megawati believes she has won 35.09 percent compared to 48.70 percent for Yudhoyono, close enough to force the pair to contest a run-off in September, her chief legal adviser Gayus Lumbuun said.Kalla has also challenged the results at the Constitutional Court, saying millions of people were left off the official voter lists.He said his challenge was about protecting the future of democracy in a country that emerged from 32 years of dictatorship only 11 years ago."It's not a matter of winning or losing," Antara news agency quoted him as saying at an event at his Makassar residence called "JK goes home -- JK hero of democracy"."The principle is that this nation must progress properly, honestly and democratically, because the democratic process must be implemented correctly and fairly."World leaders have congratulated Yudhoyono on his re-election, including US President Barack Obama, who described the vote as "free and fair".The former general told reporters ahead of a meeting with his senior ministers on Tuesday that the legal process should take its course.But he also said people could judge for themselves "what is logical and not logical"."I believe that whatever political dynamics happen, there will be a settlement, the best solution will be found," he said.
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