Indonesia Holds Nationwide Poll Despite COVID-19 Warnings

Indonesia held nationwide regional elections Wednesday
with more than 100 million voters eligible to cast a ballot,
despite warnings the poll would worsen the nation’s Covid-19
crisis.

The archipelago of nearly 270 million — the world’s
third-biggest democracy and fourth most populous nation — delayed
the vote originally set for September as it struggled to contain
soaring infection rates.

From the capital, Jakarta to the holiday island of Bali, polling
station staff in full protective gear enforced social distancing
and took voters’ temperatures before polls closed at 1:00 pm local
time (0600 GMT).

Abdul Rahman Wahab, 24, admitted he was nervous about turning up
to vote on Sulawesi island.

“Health is my priority for sure, but voting is also an important
part of our life in a democratic country,” he said.

Islamist parties are looking to score big gains in the world’s
biggest Muslim-majority nation as they ride a tide of rising
religious conservatism.

In the second-biggest city, Surabaya workers followed the
tradition of donning superhero costumes, dressing as Spiderman to
lure voters in.

Others were tasked with taking ballot boxes into hospitals so
that Covid patients could vote from their sickbeds.

“All polling stations were disinfected,” said Suprianto, head of
a polling station committee in Jakarta’s Ciputat district, who like
many Indonesians goes by one name.

“We made spaces as wide as possible to allow for social
distancing. Voters were also required to wear masks. If you don’t,
then you won’t be allowed in the polling station.”

Voter Nur Oktaviani said the precautions had put her at
ease.

“I’m not worried,” the 24-year-old told AFP.

“Here, they’re complying with health protocols.”

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– ‘High risk’ –

Hundreds of hopefuls — including President Joko Widodo’s eldest
son — are vying for 270 positions, including regional governors,
district heads, and mayors.

Official results are not expected for several weeks.

At least four election candidates have died so far, according to
independent research group Laporcovid, and more than 1,000 election
agency staff were infected ahead of voting day.

Over 580,000 Indonesians have contracted the illness while the
death toll stands at 18,000.

But the true scale of the crisis is widely believed to be much
bigger, as testing rates are low.

Infections could skyrocket above one million after polling day,
warned Hermawan Saputra at the Indonesian Public Health Experts’
Association.

“The most worrying thing is that it won’t be just young, healthy
people casting their votes, but also the elderly, pregnant women
and sick people — they’re all at high risk,” he said.

“The public service announcements and health protocols aren’t
enough. Health is being trumped by political demands and that’s
very concerning. It’s not worth it.”

– Dynastic ambitions –

In the midst of the pandemic, voters had little chance to
interact with candidates or understand their platforms, dealing a
blow to a democracy that rose from the ashes of the Suharto
dictatorship two decades ago.

“Holding regional elections during the pandemic is highly risky
and costs a lot of money,” said Titi Anggraini, an analyst at the
Association for Elections and Democracy.

“It’s such a waste.”

Widodo’s son Gibran Rakabuming Raka, 33, is running for mayor of
Solo city in Central Java, where his father, a former furniture
seller better known as Jokowi, started in politics.

Jokowi’s son-in-law is also vying for office, stirring questions
about whether Indonesia’s leader is trying to create a political
dynasty more than a year into his second and final term.

Vice-president Ma’ruf Amin’s daughter and defense minister
Prabowo Subianto’s niece are also running for elected positions

-AFP

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