10,000 to back up election security

JAKARTA (JP): Organizers of an election security team said yesterday around 10,000 people would back up the police and military securing the election in May.

The civilian team consists of about 2,500 Golkar, PDI and PPP members and 7,500 members of their affiliated youth groups.

An organizer from the Golkar-affiliated AMPI youth group, Yos Rosidi, said the 2,500 members trained for a week last year.

They were trained to face riots and overcome floods and fires, Yos said. Trainers were from city police and military headquarters. They were trained in three groups, in April, July and December last year.

They were given lectures on the city's 1988 rule on public order and related topics.

On their authority, Yos said they were told to report to the nearest police post in case of riots or other problems. "They would coordinate closely with police and military securing the election," HMU Djajanto, the organizer from Golkar said.

"They will not carry weapons," Yos said.

Organizers said they did not know the cost of the training, only that it came from the city's budget for routine expenses.

"The uniform vests are provided by each political organization," Yos said.

Members were also taught how to make reports on criminal incidents to police, he said.

There will be 12,493 polling stations in the capital; 1,854 in Central Jakarta, 1,866 in North Jakarta, 2,725 in West Jakarta, 3,291 in South Jakarta and 2,757 in East Jakarta. (anr)