The Japanese government has contributed a total of US$3.46 million in grants to the Indonesian government and civil groups to help finance programs designed to familiarize voters with procedures for the April 2009 election.
Deputy Head of Mission at the Japanese Embassy in Jakarta Takio Yamada told reporters on Friday that $127,968 was given to civil groups and that the government received $3.34 million to finance campaigns to increase the number of voters, especially women and people from low-income sectors of society.
"We expect that the grants can help promote democracy for a better society in Indonesia. It's very important to support democracy because no political regime is better than democracy," he said.
Civil groups receiving the grants include the Economic and Social Research, Education and Familiarization Institute (LP3ES) of West Nusa Tenggara and South Sulawesi and the Muslim Student Union Board (PBHMI), located in Aceh.
"Aceh will have its first general elections this year after the peace pact between the government and the GAM *Free Aceh Movement*. It would be important to ensure sustainable peace through smooth elections," Yamada said.
The more than 171 million people registered as voters with the General Election Commission are expected to vote in the legislative election, scheduled for April 9.
Source : The Jakarta Post
