Poll lessons for Iraq

Poll lessons for Iraq

JAKARTA – With extremist bomb attacks, separatist struggles and religious tensions, Indonesia may not be a shining example for Iraq, but the Southeast Asian country now has something else to offer – democracy.

A group of Iraqi political delegates have spent the past week touring Indonesia during landmark elections in the hope of learning how, even against overwhelming odds, peaceful elections can be a reality. Parallels are easy to draw between Iraq and Indonesia, says Christopher Hobbs of the US-funded pro-democracy International Republican Institute, a non-governmental group which organised the Iraqis’ trip.”There are some very broad similarities, both are coming out of 30 years of authoritarian rule, they are multi-ethnic, multi-religious societies with a wide range of political parties and separatist issues,” he said.- Nampa-AFPParallels are easy to draw between Iraq and Indonesia, says Christopher Hobbs of the US-funded pro-democracy International Republican Institute, a non-governmental group which organised the Iraqis’ trip.”There are some very broad similarities, both are coming out of 30 years of authoritarian rule, they are multi-ethnic, multi-religious societies with a wide range of political parties and separatist issues,” he said.- Nampa-AFP

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