BIN predicts smooth and peaceful general elections<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Chief of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) Lt. Gen. (ret.)
\nA.M. Hendropriyono foresees no (major) security disturbances that
\ncould obstruct the upcoming general election, saying several
\nminor conflicts may occur but they could be kept under control.<\/p>\n
"Security authorities, mainly the police, the military and BIN
\nhave been monitoring all areas across the country to make sure
\nthat the elections go smoothly.<\/p>\n
"Of course, there might be minor disturbances, but I'm sure
\nthat it won't disrupt the political events," Hendropriyono said
\nin a seminar on intelligence at the University of Indonesia here
\non Wednesday.<\/p>\n
He said BIN has detected several groups who were trying to
\nfoil the elections but they could not do so as authorities were
\nalready aware of their operative method. He declined to identify
\nthe groups.<\/p>\n
"We have given the green light to the government to go ahead
\nwith the elections," he said.<\/p>\n
More than 145 million voters will go to polling stations to
\nvote in the legislative and presidential elections. Twenty-four
\npolitical parties will be contesting the legislative election on
\nApril 5.<\/p>\n
Fear of widespread confusion in remote areas looms as the
\nGeneral Elections Commission (KPU) has been behind schedule in
\nmaking the necessary preparations for the legislative elections.
\nKPU has not yet finished distributing ballot boxes and ballot
\npapers to remote areas in Sulawesi, Maluku and Papua.<\/p>\n
Many political observers and rights campaigners have expressed
\ntheir concern that the elections could not run democratically in
\nconflict-ridden Aceh due to the ongoing martial law and the
\nmilitary operation to quell the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said that
\nthe police planned to deploy around 180,000 personnel to maintain
\nsecurity and order nationwide during the elections.<\/p>\n
He called on political parties to deploy their paramilitary
\npersonnel to coordinate with security authorities to maintain
\nsecurity during the election campaign period and the election
\ndays.<\/p>\n
Da'i also said that the police had provided protection for all
\nKPU members and staff in the regions to assist them in
\npreparations for the elections.<\/p>\n
House Commission II chairman Teras Narang said the House would
\nmonitor the usage of Rp 10.6 trillion allocated to finance the
\nelection, including Rp 1.2 trillion for security expenditure.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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