North Sumatra gubernatorial election today<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra<\/p>\n
Three gubernatorial candidates and their running mates have
\ncommitted themselves to not mobilizing their supporters, to avoid
\ninfluencing the gubernatorial election scheduled for Monday.<\/p>\n
They expressed the commitment before Chairman of the
\ngubernatorial election committee Ahmad Azhari, North Sumatra
\nPolice chief Insp. Gen. Edy Sunarno and other local military and
\npolice officials in an informal meeting here on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The three gubernatorial candidates who have gained approval
\nfrom Home Minister Hari Sabarno were incumbent governor T. Rizal
\nNurdin, Chaeruman Harahap and Amrun Daulay.<\/p>\n
Rizal and his running mate Rudolf Pardede were nominated by
\nthe Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), the
\nmajor faction at the provincial legislative council. Chaeruman,
\nalso chief of the government prosecutor's office in the city, and
\nhis running mate, Serta Ginting, were promoted by the Golkar
\nParty, the second major faction at the provincial legislature.
\nAmrun, a government official at the social affairs ministry, and
\nhis running mate, Baskami Ginting, were supported by the National
\nMandate Party (PAN).<\/p>\n
During the meeting, the three pairs were given the opportunity
\nto present their manifestos for the gubernatorial election and
\nthey expressed their commitment to participate in the election
\nfairly, democratically and peacefully.<\/p>\n
\"The gubernatorial election must proceed peacefully and
\ndemocratically; we are committed not to mobilizing our own
\nsupporters, to avoid a chaotic situation during the election. All
\npairs of candidates will attend the election,\" said governor
\nRizal.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the local PAN chapter Azwir Sofyan said he had
\nalso ordered party members and supporters not to stage any action
\nand not to use party attributes during their attendance in the
\nelection.<\/p>\n
Edy appreciated the three pairs' pledge of not deploying their
\nown supporters, saying it would help the police maintain security
\nand order during the election.<\/p>\n
\"We shall do everything to maintain security and order during
\nthe election and the police have conducted searches in certain
\nareas in the city as preliminary preparations for the
\nmaintenance of security and order on Monday,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Secretary of the provincial legislature Nurdin Lubis said
\nlocal security authorities would deploy 1,200 police and military
\npersonnel to ensure security and order on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"Besides, the police will guard 85 councillors who will elect
\na new governor for the 2003-2008 period,\" he said, citing that
\nall councillors were staying at Hotel Tiara in the city a day
\nbefore and after the election.<\/p>\n
Secretary of the PDI Perjuangan faction Idham Hasibuan
\ncriticized the putting up of councillors at the hotel as
\nunnecessary, saying such action was against the freedom
\nprinciple.<\/p>\n
\"I personally oppose such a placement. The gubernatorial
\nelection is a constitutional event that should proceed normally;
\nit is not necessary to quarantine councillors before and after
\nthe election,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Justice Party (PK) local chapter chairman Nuh Abdul Muiz
\nconcurred and said such action had belittled the legislature.<\/p>\n
\"I'd have no objection if councillors were brought under
\npolice guard from their own houses but it is not necessary to put
\nthem in a hotel under tight security,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/north-sumatra-gubernatorial-election-today-1447893297",
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