Election security arrangement inked<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The National Police and the 24 political parties eligible to
\ncontest the 2004 elections signed on Monday a memorandum of
\nunderstanding to secure the polls and settle problems peacefully.<\/p>\n
\"We and all the 24 parties agree to make the elections
\npeaceful, secure and smooth,\" National Police chief Gen. Da'i
\nBachtiar said after the signing ceremony.<\/p>\n
Under the memorandum, the police and the parties will set up a
\ncommunication forum at the central, provincial and district
\nlevels to ensure security during the elections.<\/p>\n
The memorandum obliges party supporters to abide by election
\nregulations, especially during the campaigning period ahead of
\nthe polls.<\/p>\n
However, the memorandum failed to recommend that the parties
\ndisband their paramilitary task forces (Satgas) as demanded by
\nprodemocracy activists and other critics.<\/p>\n
Da'i said all the political parties agreed to assign their
\nSatgas to make sure that their supporters did not get out of
\ncontrol.<\/p>\n
Satgas have been accused of sparking political violence
\ninvolving supporters of rival parties.<\/p>\n
Da'i said the police realized that the most dangerous phase of
\nthe election process was the campaigning period.<\/p>\n
\"Although it is forbidden for parties to stage mass parades,
\nwe can't deny the fact that people will move from one place to
\nanother on board a huge number of vehicles during the campaigning
\nperiod.<\/p>\n
\"Under the agreement, we hope to control all activities during
\nthis phase in order to maintain peace and order,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The police chief said he would deploy extra personnel to
\nconflict-torn regions such as Aceh, Poso, Maluku and Papua in
\norder to make the 2004 elections a success.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the official Election Supervisory Committee
\n(Panwaslu), Komarudin Hidayat, commented that the agreement was a
\npositive sign and would significantly help ensure peaceful
\nelections next year.<\/p>\n
\"The agreement sends a positive signal to people who are
\npessimistic about the elections. In this way the police and the
\nparties will work together to achieve the same objective. This
\nwill make Panwaslu's task easier,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The leaders of several parties expressed similar views and
\nhave put high hopes on the agreement.<\/p>\n
\"I think it is a good step. We all agree that all parties, not
\njust the police, are responsible for security during the upcoming
\nelections. We also agree not to give our task forces military-
\nlike uniforms,\" said R. Hartono, who leads the Concern for the
\nNation Functional Party (PKPB).<\/p>\n
He said his party, which has nominated Soeharto's eldest
\ndaughter Siti Hardiyanti \"Tutut\" Rukmana as its presidential
\ncandidate, was ready to abide by all the election regulations.<\/p>\n
Edy Sudrajat, chairman of the Indonesian Justice and Unity
\nParty (PKPI), said he was happy that all the parties agreed to
\nmake the elections peaceful.<\/p>\n
\"Party supporters must be kept under control to ensure
\npeaceful elections. With this agreement, we are optimistic that
\nthe 2004 general election will run smoothly,\" he said.<\/p>",
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