Heroes of Indonesia's 2019 elections

The date was 17 April 2019. With polling stations opened, Indonesia was ready to vote. More than 190 million voters and 240 000 candidates competing for legislative seats alongside the presidential elections, this year's election had been described as one of the most complicated and ambitious single-day ballot ever in world history. Within a day of the closure of polling stations, many world leaders such as Singapore's PM Lee Hsien Loong, Malaysia's PM Tun Dr Mahathir and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulated incumbent President Joko Widodo, not for a victory but for a peaceful election process. But why is this so? What significance does this election have on Indonesia and its democratic institutions?

A troubled past with Democracy & Authoritarianism

Following its independence, Indonesia went through a period of political upheaval as she experimented with democracy. Under President Sukarno's rule, the country's economic worsened dramatically and quality of life fell consequently. Fast forward to 1966, General Suharto had taken executive powers and as President (with his authoritarian regime) for the next 32 years, he brought sweeping changes to the country, bringing about social progress - education, health, poverty level etc - and economic progress. However, this was all done at the expense of democracy and freedom and when President Suharto was brought down from power in 1998, Reformasi (Reformation) swept the nation. Demands for democratic institutions and freedom became the centre point of the nation, with locals becoming increasingly vocal about their demands. This was the beginning of Indonesia's second democratic experiment.

Post-Reformasi

21 years on, Indonesia is set for its largest-ever elections. Much has changed since then with new trends emerging - decreasing voter turnout in elections (voter turnout was only 69.58% in the 2014 Presidential election) be it as a result of political apathy or a lost in confidence in the democratic process in Indonesia, the danger of fake news especially during the campaigning period and growing religious conservatism. Many trends still remain as well - income inequality remains a main issue as reflected by its Gini coefficient of 0.384 with more than 25 million Indonesians still considered “poor” and social progress remains slow in certain parts in Indonesia. Hence, 2 decades on, this election does not merely dictate who leads Indonesia and its legislature, it is also a reflection of Indonesia's success (or failure) since reformasi and its democratic experiment. This election had to be legitimate and representative as per every election and this brings us to the heroes of Indonesia's democracy.

The martyrs of democracy

Surprisingly, the voter turnout for this election increased to just over 80% and with the voter turnout issue put aside, next up was the issue of vote counting. As the votes continue to be counted, one news clearly stands out, a rising death toll related to the elections. While one may be quick to associate this to election protest and violence, this cannot be further from the truth. This election was a peaceful one and the deaths were not from violent protest or fights between opposing parties. These were election officials who had overworked and died as a result. As of 27 April 2019, 272 officials had died and another 1878 had fallen ill as a result of overwork. This could come either from transporting the ballot boxes from polling stations or counting the votes manually, both requiring long working hours and indeed, one of the first few deaths - Mr Supriyanto, head of a KPPS (Polling Station Working Committee) in Cigalontang subdistrict, Tasikmalaya, West Java, - died after working 12 hours non-stop.

It is crucial to note that these deaths are unacceptable. No one should be put through long hours of work and to die of exhaustion after they are done. No matter how important the work is, proper working hours should be planned out with adequate rest for the workers. There is simply no point in rushing the vote count if workers are falling sick or dying, it is simply counter-productive and inhumane.

As a result, the KPU (General Elections Commission of Indonesia) has come under fire for the rising death toll and the decision to hold national and regional parliamentary and presidential elections on the same day across a nation that stretches almost as far as Singapore is from Tokyo is being questioned. The idea of holding the elections on the same day was first mooted to reduce cost and while it seems logical as it reduces the number of days required for elections and with regards to absenteeism, keeping everything to a day may reduce the hassle for locals and thus increasing voter turnout, manpower planning may have been lacking as seen from the numbers. In response, the Health Ministry had informed health services to prioritise election workers to prevent further deaths and aid those who are already ill from overworking-related illnesses.

However, as administrative decisions are being questioned and amended and people mourn the death of their loved ones, Indonesians have to acknowledge that this election process had been a successful one despite the deaths and the only way to honour the sacrifice of these election workers is to protect democracy in Indonesia. These workers had given up their lives for the process, to ensure that the votes are responsibly accounted for and that the voices of the people are heard through the election. To doubt the democratic process and to accuse people of voter fraud and election bias when there is a lack of evidence of such acts is an utter disrespect to the sacrifice made by this workers. Instead of rushing to conclusion on who the winner is or if there is any peculiarities in this election, perhaps it is more sensible to give the commission and its workers time to account for everything and for them ensure that the election process is safeguarded against any dishonest acts.

Democracy is not a simple process and it is important that these lives are not lost in vain but for a greater cause for the country. To me, these election workers at the new pahlawan nasional (national hero) or to many right now, the martir demokrasi (martyrs of democracy). They have worked hard and left a legacy of their own, in defending the country’s democracy and its voice. They are truly the heroes of Indonesia.

(Cover photo by Nick Agus Arya)

By Eugene Goh