Police urge parties not to deploy paramilitaries<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Concern over possible clashes between supporters of the nation's
\n24 political parties in the campaign period prior to next year's
\ngeneral election has prompted the city administration and Jakarta
\nPolice to ask parties not to deploy their paramilitary wings.<\/p>\n
"It is unnecessary for parties to deploy members of their
\nparamilitary wings. Of course, we can't simply ban them for doing
\nso, but please leave security matters to the police," said
\nJakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara on Wednesday
\nin a meeting between the city police, political leaders and the
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
The fact that many supporters of political parties carried
\ntheir parties' symbol during takbiran, the parade on the eve of
\nIdul Fitri on Nov. 24 when people repeatedly chant Allahu Akbar
\n(God is great), has added to the concern.<\/p>\n
"We will take New Year's Eve as a test case. Police and the
\nGeneral Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) will monitor
\nthe situation. We don't want a repeat of disguised campaigns, as
\nhappened during takbiran," Makbul said.<\/p>\n
Anxiety about the presence of paramilitary wings of political
\nparties has risen after two Golkar supports were killed during a
\nbloody clash with supporters of the Indonesian Democratic Party
\nof Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) in Buleleng, Bali, in October.<\/p>\n
The General Elections Commission (KPU) announced last Sunday
\nthat 24 political parties were eligible to contest the 2004
\nelection. Some of the parties already have their own security
\nforces.<\/p>\n
Makbul warned existing paramilitary groups not to wear
\nmilitary-style uniforms and attributes including carrying
\ndaggers.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo suggested the establishment
\nof a forum to coordinate contesting political parties and their
\nrespective paramilitary wings to avoid clashes.<\/p>\n
The city administration had earlier said that it would
\nprohibit the establishment of political party posts for the same
\nreason.<\/p>\n
Instead, the administration would finance the establishment of
\njoint posts for parties in each subdistrict.<\/p>\n
To uphold security in the capital during the election, the
\ncity police will deploy all their 25,000 personnel starting from
\nthe campaigning period in March until the close of the elections
\nin October.<\/p>\n
The police will get back up from the Jakarta Military Command.<\/p>\n
"Police and military personnel must safeguard a total of
\n22,005 polling stations across the city. We will also employ a
\npatrolling system in 253 areas on motorcycles, cars and trucks
\nand speed boats," Makbul said.<\/p>\n
The patrolling policemen will maintain contact with security
\nguards and civilian guards throughout the city. The guards are
\nalso tasked with directly monitoring security at polling stations
\nin their neighborhoods.<\/p>\n
Makbul asserted that police would take action against any
\nviolations of the law, including traffic regulations, as the
\nlatter are expected to increase during the campaign period.<\/p>\n
Supporters usually parade across the city, sitting atop cars
\nand buses, ignorant of the fact that their actions could endanger
\nboth themselves and other motorists.<\/p>",
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