KPU, police sign security agreement<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The General Elections Commission (KPU) and the National Police
\nsigned a Memorandum of Understanding on Monday that requires the
\nlater to maintain security prior to and during the 2004
\nlegislative and presidential elections.<\/p>\n
Commission chairman Nazaruddin Syamsuddin said the MOU ordered
\nthe police to provide security during political campaigning
\nconducted by parties contesting the elections as such events were
\nprone to disturbances.<\/p>\n
In the MOU, which was inked by Nazaruddin and National Police
\nchief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar, the police also agreed to back up the
\ncommission in enforcing its decisions against any parties
\nviolating Law No. 12\/2003 on general elections.<\/p>\n
\"The security agreement between the commission and the police
\nis needed because we consider the election process to be prone to
\nsecurity disturbances sparked by politicians who are disappointed
\nwith our decisions or by the supporters of political parties
\nduring the campaign,\" Nazaruddin said after the signing of the
\nMOU at National Police headquarters.<\/p>\n
The MOU does not specifically provide for security
\narrangements in the country's restive provinces. According to
\nNazaruddin, \"these are technical matters and will be left to the
\npolice.\"<\/p>\n
Accompanying Nazaruddin were several commission members,
\nincluding his deputy, Ramlan Surbakti.<\/p>\n
Ramlan said controversy would arise as soon as the vetting of
\npolitical parties commenced.<\/p>\n
The KPU has also prepared itself for any problems arising from
\nthe distribution of supplies to local commission offices,
\nparticularly offices in conflict-prone areas, according to Ramlan<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Military (TNI) had earlier expressed their
\nreadiness to provide security for commission officials in both
\nPapua and Aceh, which have seen years of low-level separatist
\nconflict.<\/p>\n
Due to the mounting tension in Aceh, Nazaruddin said that
\nlocal commission offices in the province had proposed a one-month
\nextension of the voter registration process.<\/p>\n
The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) began a nationwide
\ncensus, and a voter registration drive on behalf of the KPU, on
\nApril 1. Both tasks are expected to be completed within one
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
The commission is scheduled to vet the political parties
\nbetween July 9 and Sept. 9. It has also announced that the
\ncampaign period will be from March 11 to April 1, 2004, with
\npolling day being on April 5, 2004.<\/p>\n
Currently, 237 political parties have registered with the
\nMinistry of Justice and Human Rights, but it is likely that only
\na few of them, including the six major political parties, will be
\neligible to contest the legislative election.<\/p>\n
Among the parties likely to be in the final running are the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), Golkar
\nParty, United Development Party (PPP), National Awakening Party
\n(PKB), National Mandate Party (PAN) and Crescent Star Party
\n(PBB).<\/p>\n
However, the KPU is as yet unable to set the dates for the
\ntwo-stage direct presidential and vice presidential elections,
\npending the deliberation of the presidential elections bill by
\nthe House of Representatives.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kpu-police-sign-security-agreement-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}