WE HAVE A LOT TO LEARN FROM INDONESIAN ELECTIONS

Chapter 1: Introduction 

It was in the summer of 1999 when I found myself part of something truly historic—an international electoral observation mission in a neighboring country standing on the threshold of democratic renewal. Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populous nation and Southeast Asia’s largest democracy, was preparing for its first free general elections in over four decades. After years under Suharto’s authoritarian regime, the Indonesian people were finally reclaiming their right to vote. It was a moment pregnant with political possibility, not just for Indonesia, but for democratic advocates across the region.

The Philippines, having had its own democratic struggles and triumphs—most notably the People Power Revolution of 1986—was invited to witness this democratic reawakening. At the behest of Indonesian President B.J. Habibie, our government sent a 108-member delegation from the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL). This was not merely an official gesture of regional solidarity. It was a heartfelt contribution of experience, empathy, and vigilance from one democracy to another. The delegation was headed by NAMFREL Chairman Jose Concepcion, with retired General Thelmo Cunanan as deputy chief of mission. I was one of the volunteers honored to be included.

For someone like me, whose professional life had been steeped in the intricacies of legislation and public policy in the Philippine House of Representatives, the opportunity to observe another nation’s electoral process up close was both humbling and illuminating. It meant stepping beyond the walls of the Batasan complex and into the heart of an unfolding democratic experiment. Though my expertise was legislative work, I understood that democracy did not end with the crafting of laws. It began—always—with the consent of the governed, expressed through the ballot.

This mission was a chance not just to observe, but to learn. It was also a chance to reflect: on what Indonesia was gaining, what we in the Philippines may have lost, and what we might still recover. And as I would soon discover, the lessons were many—and deeply resonant.