The Golkar party of former Indonesian dictator Suharto has regained the lead in Indonesia's general election – one week after the polls. It's still not clear when the computerised count will end, but Golkar now has a thin lead over President Megawati Sukarnoputri's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle. But 19 other parties say they will reject the election outcome, because of polling irregularities and violations.

Presenter/Interviewer: Deborah Steele

Speakers: Adnan Nasution, lawyer and spokesman for coalition of 19 political parties opposing election results; Professor Din Syamsuddin, secretary general of the Indonesian Ulema Council, vice chairman of Mohammadiah; Marty Natalegawa, Indonesian government spokesman

Steele: High profile human rights lawyer Adnan Nasution describes himself as an independent activist for democracy and the rule of law ... and the "facilitator" for 19 political parties who – he says – reject the election results and will submit a formal complaint to the General Elections Commission.

He says the parties the current third-place getter in the election count – the National Awakening party, the PKB, led by former president Abdurrachman Wahid, also known as "Gus Dur"

Nasution: The PKB, represented by Gus Dur, and the PKS, were among the biggest parties who came with the same conclusion. They said they were of the opinion that this election has so many violations to the rule that, therefore can not be accepted. And the fact that these 19 parties have the same opinion is something which I think has to be taken into consideration. Quite different than the situation in 1999, when I was then vice chairman of the election board. At the time only the small parties rejected the election and they didn't have any strong evidence. But this time as I understand, from what they represented in the meeting, they have strong evidences.

Steele: The complaints by the 19 parties have been dismissed by the government, which has ultimate responsiblity for the way in which the poll was conducted.

Government spokesman Marty Natalegawa says the parties concerned are distancing themselves from the allegations:

Natalegawa: In fact many of the parties who were included in that list of 19 feel as if they have not given a mandate to anyone to speak on their behalf, including Adnan Nasution. Subsequently there have been other parties equally reputable people in the area of human rights who have said that in fact the request, or demand, for re-election, is an irresponsible one, because the process is yet to be finalised. And there are avenues for people who have difficulties to express themselves formally, but not by wanting to jeopardise the whole thing when in fact millions of Indonesians have come to express their democratic preference.

Steele: Adnan Nasution stands by the claim that 19 parties believe the election is a fraud. He says the parties were represented by executive members who attended one of two meetings he facilitated. They are now consulting party leaders and considering their next move ... in what he describes as a normal and healthy process.

But he says he's confident the 19 parties will hold firm. Whatever happens, there are many who believe that Indonesian democracy is already the winner of the legislative elections.

Among them, Professor Din Syamsuddin, secretary general of the Indonesian Ulema Council, and vice chairman of Mohammadiah – two of the most influential Muslim organisations in Indonesia – and a former vice chairman of Golkar in the Indonesian parliament.

Syamsuddin: The result of the election in Indonesia is fair, good and the process of democracy and democratisation through the election has shown the maturity of Indonesian people for democracy.

Steele: As Secretary General of the Indonesian Ulema council and vice chairman of Mohammadiah, would you be happy with a Golkar led government?

Syamsuddin: We don't pay attention to a particular party but this party gain significant achievement, bringing the issues that related to the very problematic of Indonesian people, especially the economic problem. So the election has been perceived by many of the voters as a momentum of change.