Election officials check ballot boxes for any possible irregularities RELATED VIDEO CNN's Maria Ressa reports Indonesia's 130 million voters will choose a new parliament Monday Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K CNN's Mike Chinoy reports Indonesians go to the polls on Monday for their first democratic election in 44 years. Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K CNN's Mike Chinoy interviews Aceh rebels in the jungle of Sumatra Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K
ALSO: Leading Suharto critic aims for power in Indonesia

June 6, 1999
Web posted at: 10:04 p.m. EDT (0204 GMT)

In this story: Number of parties goes from three to 48 'This is a new Golkar' Protests muted during campaign period RELATED STORIES, SITES

JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) -- Indonesians began voting Monday morning in their nation's first open elections in almost half a century.

Heavy turnout was expected among the more than 100 million registered voters, who are selecting members of parliament in the world's largest Muslim country.

Voters will choose 462 of the 500 members of parliament. An additional 38 seats automatically are set aside for the military. Preliminary election results were expected 24 to 36 hours after the polls closed.

Along with 200 regional officials, the parliament will determine the country's new president in November.

Hundreds of thousands of voting stations are set up across the country, which spans 13,000 islands along the equator. Former President Jimmy Carter and other international observers were being joined by thousands of local volunteer election monitors.

Fraud allegations and violence marred elections during the authoritative rule of longtime President Suharto, who was forced to step down in 1998 amid growing economic turmoil and deadly demonstrations.

The Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle, which enjoys widespread support among the poor, should be among the front- runners, many political analysts said.

"I want to encourage our people, to educate our people to have the courage to understand and fight for their rights," said party leader Megawati Sukarnoputri, considered by many the most popular politician in the country.

Number of parties goes from three to 48

Sukarnoputri gained national fame three years ago when Suharto forced her out as leader of one of three officially recognized parties.

Since Suharto's successor, President B.J. Habibie, instituted limited democratic reforms, the number of political parties has soared to 48 for this election.

"This is the first election after more than three decades that provides the atmosphere for the people to enjoy real political freedom," he said in a nationally televised address Sunday night.

"Those who fail must accept the reality and avoid doing anything that could harm society, while the winner should refrain from any arrogance and keep in mind that we are part of a big national family," Habibie said.

'This is a new Golkar'

In Jakarta, many people expressed displeasure with Golkar, the ruling party of Suharto and Habibie

This weekend, crowds of Indonesians attended political rallies and parades to back their favorite parties.

In Jakarta, people hissed at candidates and destroyed banners belonging to Golkar, the ruling party of Suharto and Habibie.

"This is a new Golkar, which is correcting the mistakes of the past," implored party chairman Akbar Tandjung at a recent rally. "Is there anyone who's never made a mistake? We admit we were wrong."

Still, with its political machinery in place, and the habitual support of some rural peasants, Golkar could do better than expected in the election.

Some think the party could participate in a coalition government if no clear winner emerges in the elections.

Two-thirds of voters were not alive when Indonesia last held a democratic election in 1955.

Political turmoil ensued and founding President Sukarno seized control with the backing of the military.

Protests muted during campaign period

Sixty-five percent of Indonesia's registered voters live in rural areas

The international community, which has invested more than $40 billion to rescue Indonesia's battered economy, has provided $94 million and hundreds of observers to help stage and monitor the elections.

Carter met with Habibie and leaders of some opposition parties on Sunday. He predicted a vote that was fair, democratic and peaceful.

While escalating communal violence has rocked Indonesia for months, the unrest calmed down dramatically during the official three-week campaign period.

Jakarta Bureau Chief Maria Ressa, Correspondent Mike Chinoy and Reuters contributed to this report.

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