Jayapura, Jubi – In keeping with its ongoing commitment to good governance and free and fair elections in the region, the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) will be participating in election related missions to Indonesia and Nauru this week. Two of forum advisor also visited Papua and West Papua Province to observe the election in both provinces.
The Forum has received an invitation from the Chairman of Indonesia’s General Elections Commission to take part in the Election Visit Programme for the 2017 Indonesian Regional Head Elections, which take place on Wednesday 15 February.
The elections will see over one hundred regions within seven provinces across the country go to the polls.
Secretary General of the Pacific Islands, Dame Meg Taylor accepted the invitation saying
“The Pacific region and Indonesia share a belief in the principles of good governance and fair and free elections. I’m sure there is much we can learn from the third largest democracy in the world.”
The Forum team will comprise Acting Director-General for Vanuatu’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Sambue Antas, and Fetogi Vaai of the Samoan Electoral Commission, with support from the Forum Secretariat.
Alfred Soakai, political issues advisor of PIF said he will observe the election in Jayapura from 13 – 16 February. On Monday (13 February) he visited the socialization hold by General Elections Commission of Jayapura City.
“I also met the regent of Jayapura Regency and had discussion on the election issue,” Soakai said to Jubi. (*)
