*EPF503 10/08/2004
Text: Election a Great Victory for People of Indonesia, Leach Says
(Lawmaker calls Islamic civil society a "catalyst" for democratization) (800)

The recent successful completion of a direct presidential election is a great victory for the people of Indonesia as their country undergoes a remarkable transition to democracy, Representative James A. Leach said in remarks before the House of Representatives October 7.

"The people of Indonesia have effected credible, orderly, and peaceful elections of which they are deservedly proud," said Leach, a Republican from Iowa.

"The magnitude of this accomplishment becomes apparent," he added, "when we recall that Indonesia emerged from authoritarianism only six years ago, during an extended period of acute economic and social turmoil."

Leach noted that some observers have cited Indonesia as evidence that Islam and democracy can coexist. "[B]ut it is more than that," he said. "Civil Islam in Indonesia has not been merely passive or coincidental with democratization; it has been a catalyst."

The congressman praised the role that Islamic organizations, universities, boarding schools, and nongovernmental organizations have played in the country's developing political culture and democratic institutions.

"We understand and appreciate the critical role that Islamic civil society has played in promoting democracy in Indonesia," Leach said.

Leach extended congratulations and wished success to Indonesia's president-elect, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and vice president-elect, Jusuf Kalla. He also expressed gratitude to President Megawati Sukarnoputri for her leadership and service over the last three years.

"We have high hopes for the new administration as it begins to address the significant challenges facing Indonesia," Leach said. "We look forward to the continuation of the cooperative relationship between our nations, and the steady growth in friendship between our peoples."

Following is the text of Leach's remarks, as prepared for delivery:

(begin text)

Extension of Remarks
Representative James A. Leach
Congratulating the people of Indonesia on their recent elections
Before the House of Representatives

October 7, 2004

On September 20, 2004, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono won a decisive victory in the final round of the first direct presidential election in the history of the Republic of Indonesia. However, the election was an even greater victory for the people of Indonesia in their remarkable transition to democracy.

This has been a pivotal year for democratic institutions in Indonesia. Indonesia has conducted not one, but three complex national elections in 2004. They were the largest single-day elections in the world, and involved hundreds of millions of ballots, and more than 500,000 polling stations spread across that vast archipelago. In April, I had the opportunity to visit the Indonesian National Elections Commission in Jakarta, and was impressed by the energy and determination with which its officials were confronting those logistical challenges. By any measure, their efforts were a profound success. Approximately 116 million people voted in the final round of the presidential election, over 10 million more than voted in the last presidential election in the United States.

The people of Indonesia have effected credible, orderly, and peaceful elections of which they are deservedly proud. The magnitude of this accomplishment becomes apparent when we recall that Indonesia emerged from authoritarianism only six years ago, during an extended period of acute economic and social turmoil.

Other observers have correctly cited Indonesia as proof that Islam and democracy can coexist, but it is more than that. Civil Islam in Indonesia has not been merely passive or coincidental with democratization; it has been a catalyst. We understand and appreciate the critical role that Islamic civil society has played in promoting democracy in Indonesia. I fully expect that Islamic mass organizations, universities, pesantren, and non-governmental organizations will continue to play an important part in developing the political culture and public expectations necessary to make Indonesia's nascent democratic institutions truly representative.

We have high hopes for the new administration as it begins to address the significant challenges facing Indonesia. We wish them every success in promoting economic growth, peacefully resolving separatist and communal conflicts, improving the implementation of decentralization and regional autonomy, combating terrorism, and ensuring that the institutions that wield public power are fully accountable to the people of Indonesia. In sum, we share the aspiration of the Indonesian people for expanding and deepening the process of reformasi - the reformation of public institutions away from the corruption, collusion, and nepotism that have weakened them in years past.

I would like to extend my personal congratulations to President-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President-elect Jusuf Kalla on their recent victory, and to thank President Megawati Sukarnoputri for her leadership and service to her country during the past three years. We look forward to the continuation of the cooperative relationship between our nations, and the steady growth in friendship between our peoples.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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