---------------------------------------------------------- Visit Indonesia Daily News Online HomePage: http://www.indo-news.com/ Please Visit Our Sponsor http://www.indo-news.com/cgi-bin/ads1 ---------------------------------------------------------- The Straits Times, August 3 1999 Indonesia's Habibie Declares Vote Count Valid JAKARTA - President B.J. Habibie today declared the results of Indonesia's June 7 parliamentary election valid and binding, nearly two months after the historic vote. "I declare the result of the ballot is legitimate," Habibie said in a speech at the presidential palace to senior members of Indonesia's leading political parties. After weeks of delays, an election vote count was finished in mid-July, giving the party of opposition figurehead Megawati Sukarnoputri clear first place with 34 percent of the vote. The ruling Golkar party came second with 22 percent. But official validation of the result was further delayed by smaller parties in Indonesia's General Election Commission (KPU), who feared political oblivion and alleged there had been cheating. The KPU has not yet ratified the results but according to Indonesia's byzantine election regulations Habibie can override it and declare the ballot valid once complaints have been checked by the official monitor. "The result of the ballot is very clear," Habibie said, adding that although there had been some violations, they were much smaller than in previous elections and did not affect the result. Nevertheless, all violations would be investigated, he said. - Reuters ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 5 Aug 1999 jam 05:56:24 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
