Aceh in need of more police

BANDA ACEH, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam: The plan to withdraw police deployed in Aceh following the signing of the peace deal between the government and the Free Aceh Movement would cause a shortage of police in the province, a police official said.

According to a spokesman for the Aceh Police, Sr. Comr. Joko Turahman, once the plan is completed, the province would have only 8,000 police officers.

"The number is too little to cover Aceh's 21 regencies," Joko said on Sunday, adding that the province would need at least 18,000 police officers.

In order to cope with the problem, he said, Aceh Police has recently accepted 1,750 police officer candidates. -- JP