Grave violations reported during election in Aceh<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Several local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) reported vote
\nbuying on Tuesday allegedly committed by political parties ahead
\nof the April 5 poll.<\/p>\n
The NGOs said election violations were rampant in the
\nregencies of Southeast Aceh, Sabang and Singkil, which are
\nconsidered territories loyal to the Unitary Republic of
\nIndonesia, as well as in regencies known to be strongholds of the
\nFree Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist group, such as East Aceh,
\nPidie and North Aceh.<\/p>\n
\"In Southeast Aceh, especially at a polling station in Ujung
\nBarat village in the subdistrict of Babussalam, all ballots had
\nbeen punched prior to the election day,\" the Aceh NGO Forum said
\nin its report.<\/p>\n
The NGOs said its volunteers found members of Pemuda
\nPancasila, a youth organization affiliated to Golkar Party,
\nguarding the polling station which was located in front of the
\nhouse of the village head.<\/p>\n
\"Voting finished at 9:30 a.m. with 100 percent of the vote
\ngoing to Golkar,\" the forum said.<\/p>\n
Also in Southeast Aceh, the forum reported that Golkar had
\ndistributed 50 kilograms of rice to each family living in 20
\nvillages there.<\/p>\n
In Singkil, the forum said it found that Golkar had
\ndistributed packages of basic commodities to voters ahead of the
\nelection day.<\/p>\n
\"The package comprised rice, sugar, kerosene and palm oil,\"
\nthe forum said.<\/p>\n
In Sabang, Golkar distributed free breakfast before the
\nballoting, the report said.<\/p>\n
The forum worked with the Civil Society Alliance for Democracy
\n(Yappika), which is led by rights activist and sociologist Otto
\nSyamsuddin Ishak, in conducting the monitoring.<\/p>\n
At least 406 volunteers were dispatched to 20 districts across
\nthe war-torn province to observe the process before, during and
\nafter the voting.<\/p>\n
The forum said in West Langsa subdistrict in East Aceh, the
\nUnited Development Party (PPP) distributed Rp 10,000 (US$1.17) to
\neach voter. Pamphlets were distributed from a car in Pidie asking
\nfor support for well-known local religious leaders who were
\ncontesting the election representing PPP.<\/p>\n
In North Aceh, most voters came to the polling stations
\nwithout voter cards. They were allowed to vote upon the
\ninvitation of local poll committee members. In Singkil, two
\npeople with ID cards issued by the Medan administration, were
\nallowed to vote, the report said.<\/p>\n
House of Representatives legislators, however, billed the
\nelection as \"fair\". They said the election had taken place in a
\ndemocratic atmosphere, while security was maintained.<\/p>\n
\"I observed the election here firsthand and am convinced that
\nthe election took place fairly and safely,\" Franklin William
\nKaihatu, a legislator from House Commission I for political,
\nsecurity and foreign affairs, said as quoted by Antara.<\/p>\n
Joining Kaihatu during the visit were Permadi from the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and Aisyah Amini
\nfrom PPP. Accompanied by Aceh governor Abdullah Puteh, they
\nobserved a polling station located in Lhoknga area.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/grave-violations-reported-during-election-in-aceh-1447893297",
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