Election delays unavoidable in some areas<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Bandung\/Jayapura\/Kupang<\/p>\n
Most parts of the nation voted in the legislative election on
\nMonday, except for some isolated parts of Papua and war-torn
\nvillages in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam.<\/p>\n
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said on Monday an
\nelection in at least 48 villages of a total 6,000 in Aceh could
\nnot be held as they were controlled by Free Aceh Movement (GAM)
\nrebels. GAM control had rendered it impossible to distribute
\nelection materials, the police chief said.<\/p>\n
General Elections Commission (KPU) chairman Nazaruddin
\nSjamsuddin acknowledged the delay to the election in a number of
\ndistricts across the country.<\/p>\n
\"We have tried to meet the need for election materials in the
\ndistricts. The polls were delayed as many polling stations there
\ndid not receive the materials until Monday morning,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Papua Provincial Elections Commission (KPUD) secretary Hasyim
\nSangaji said on Monday polls had been delayed in 513 polling
\nstations scattered in seven of 20 regencies in the province.<\/p>\n
Delayed elections are a certainty in Jayawijaya in 183 of 637
\npolling stations, Tolikara (156, 204), Merauke (72, 414), Bintang
\nmountains (63, 205), Mappi (38, 184), Puncak Jaya (1, 117) and
\nPaniai (no data available yet).<\/p>\n
\"The delays are unavoidable as ballot papers did not reach the
\npolling stations until election day due to difficult terrain,\"
\nSangaji said.<\/p>\n
\"It is difficult to predict when the election will eventually
\ntake place. It depends upon the arrival of the ballot papers.\"<\/p>\n
So far, more than 10 airplanes have been chartered to help
\nspeed up the distribution of ballot papers there, but bad weather
\nhas prevented the aircraft from reaching the areas.<\/p>\n
Nazaruddin said a delayed election was expected to be held
\nwithin the next three days, but the decision would be made by the
\nKPUD.<\/p>\n
Manokwari Regent Dominggus Madacan said 48 of 585 polling
\nstations in the regency could not organize a legislative election
\ndue to a shortage of ballot papers.<\/p>\n
Chairman of Manokwari KPUD JM Ayomi said he had met with
\npolitical party leaders and they all agreed to the delay.<\/p>\n
Ayomi said the KPU had sent approximately 99,000 papers in 198
\nboxes but only 181 boxes had arrived, containing 90,500 papers.<\/p>\n
Outside the conflict-prone provinces of Aceh and Papua,
\nelection delays occurred in 20 polling stations in Manggarai
\nregency, East Nusa Tenggara, after election materials failed to
\nreach the stations due to poor weather.<\/p>\n
Head of the provincial elections commission Robinson Ratu Kore
\nsaid the polling stations were located in Elor and Mboro
\nsubdistricts.<\/p>\n
The government issued on Friday a regulation in lieu of law to
\nanticipate election delays as a result of logistical problems.
\nThe regulation amended the election law, which says a delay is
\npermissible in the event of riot, natural disaster or security
\ndisturbance.<\/p>\n
The KPU apologized on Sunday for the hiccups in its
\npreparations for the election, which was marked by repeated
\ndelays in the procurement of election materials.<\/p>\n
Separately, House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung
\nexpressed confidence the delay would not affect the outcome of
\nthe elections.<\/p>",
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