75% eligible voters sign up in Maluku<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Campaigning and election preparations continued
\non Friday in the trouble spots of Aceh and Maluku, but came to a
\nstandstill for the second day in a row in at least one town in
\nIrian Jaya, which has recently witnessed an upsurge of
\nseparatism.<\/p>\n
In Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh, Golkar chairman Akbar
\nTandjung managed to attract an estimated 5,000 participants to
\nhis campaign gathering. The huge turn up was unusual, as most
\nother parties have canceled activities because of widespread
\nrejection by the Acehnese of the June 7 general election.<\/p>\n
Akbar said his party would fight to meet Acehnese demands for
\nwide-ranging autonomy if it won the elections.<\/p>\n
Golkar, however, \"does not support the call for a referendum,\"
\nhe said. \"Indonesia is a unitary state which includes Aceh. Aceh
\nhelped it gain its independence, there's no way Aceh could be
\nseparated (from the republic.)\"<\/p>\n
Also in Banda Aceh, the Ministry of Defense's secretary-
\ngeneral Lt. Gen. Fachrul Razy said it was impossible for
\nIndonesia to consider a referendum and eventual independence for
\nAceh.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that the province is made up of various ethnic
\ngroups. \"If it became independent, then certain regencies
\n(dominated by certain ethnic groups) would also demand
\nseparation.\"<\/p>\n
Separately, in the North Sumatra capital of Medan, Bukit
\nBarisan Regional Military Command spokesman Lt. Col. H. Nurdin
\nSulistyo said the Indonesian Military had no intention of
\nprovoking Acehnese, or preventing election campaigning in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
Sulistyo was quoted by Antara as responding to a news report
\nthat authorities would be unable to hold polls in North Aceh due
\nto interruptions from armed groups.<\/p>\n
Muslim leader Abdurrahman Wahid described on Friday how
\nofficials had been threatened and were unable to sit on election
\ncommittees. He said threats came from paid retired officers
\ngrouped in the \"Taliban movement\" as well as from the Free Aceh
\nMovement.<\/p>\n
Sulistyo, however, said the military and police in Aceh
\nremained consistent in their opposition to the \"security
\ndisturbance activists... who often turn residents into human
\nshields so they can freely shoot at security personnel, even at
\nthe expense of the innocent people\".<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Pidie Police chief Lt. Col. Siswandi said those
\nresponsible for attacking United Development Party (PPP)
\nsupporters were still at large.<\/p>\n
Twelve alleged members of the separatist Free Aceh Movement
\nkidnapped four PPP campaign workers and set their vehicle on fire
\nto protest the elections in Geulumpang Tiga district in Pidie
\nregency, Aceh, on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, about 75 percent of the riot-torn Maluku's 1,2
\nmillion eligible voters have signed up for the polls, Antara
\nreported on Friday. The voter registration period ended on
\nFriday,<\/p>\n
In capital city of Ambon alone, 59 percent of some 205,000
\neligible voters have signed up for the elections. Minister of
\nHome Affairs Syarwan Hamid is scheduled to visit the capital of
\nMaluku on Saturday to check on election preparations.<\/p>\n
More than 300 people have been killed in months of clashes
\nbetween Muslims and Christians in the province which first
\nerupted in Ambon in mid-January.<\/p>\n
In the Irian Jaya town of Manokwari, some 500 kilometers west
\nof the provincial capital Jayapura, campaigning activities have
\nbeen halted for the past two days. Thousands of people took to
\nthe streets to protest the death of Nataniel Sawaky, 16, who was
\nallegedly tortured by police while he was held in detention.<\/p>\n
Nataniel's father, Onisimus Sawaky, 67, said his son died at
\nthe Manokwari General Hospital on Thursday. The hospital
\nconfirmed that Nataniel died from trauma to the back of the head
\ncaused by a blunt object.<\/p>\n
Onisimus quoted Nataniel as saying on Wednesday police hit his
\nhead with a rifle butt after he was arrested on drunk and
\ndisorderly charges on Monday.<\/p>\n
Manokwari Police chief Lt. Col. R.T. Hutabarat, however,
\ndenied the allegation and said Nataniel fell from the police
\ntruck as he attempted to flee police. (34\/39\/byg)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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