Aceh polls on target: Wiranto

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense/Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Wiranto pledged on Monday the elections would be held as scheduled in troubled Aceh, overriding calls for a delay in polls and security concerns due to attacks and counterattacks between the military and separatist rebels.

The general said local government, military leaders and the majority of the people were determined to hold the elections as scheduled on June 7 in Pidie, North Aceh and East Aceh.

"Elections must be held as scheduled in the three regencies. There is no reason to delay the elections just because of the attacks (of rebels)," Wiranto said after attending a meeting of the Council for Enforcement of Security and Law at Bina Graha presidential office.

The head of the Aceh Elections Committee Ahmad Farhan Hamid disclosed last week that only 13.6 percent, 22.5 percent and 61 percent of eligible voters had registered in Pidie, North Aceh and East Aceh respectively.

Wiranto reiterated his previous allegation that the Free Aceh movement, headed by Hasan Tiro, was responsible for the violent campaigns to boycott the elections in the province.

"This month alone they have launched 34 attacks against residents and security forces," he noted.

The general urged people in the three regencies not to miss the opportunity to vote in the elections. He said TNI would not tolerate any security disturbances during or after the elections.

He cited several provinces, including Kalimantan, Maluku and Irian Jaya, that were facing transportation problems during the elections due to geographical constraints. He said he had ordered the deployment of military transportation means to transport ballot boxes and other poll equipment.

"Elections in Maluku also will be held on time, because the situation has much improved there," said Wiranto.

More than 350 people have been killed in Maluku since Christian-Muslim clashes broke out mid-January.

Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Gen. (ret) Feisal Tanjung said he was surprised that violence in Aceh recently spread to West Aceh, where nine people were killed in an ambush by rebels.

"We are surprised, we never thought before that the calm regency could be influenced by the Free Aceh movement," Feisal said before the council meeting.

Minister of Home Affairs Syarwan Hamid agreed the elections would be held as scheduled in Aceh, although he did not rule out the possibility of a delay should an emergency arise.

"If the situation is not very conducive, it is possible that KPU (General Elections Commission) will make an evaluation (and delay the polls)," said Syarwan.

Separately, chairman of the General Elections Commission Rudini said he would pay a last-day poll preparation visit to Aceh on Friday.

"A special team consisting of KPU members will monitor the poll preparation in Aceh's three troubled regencies, namely North Aceh, East Aceh and Pidie," Rudini told the media on Monday.

KPU has yet to decide whether to delay the polls in the three regencies, Rudini reiterated.

"The commission will monitor the situation up until balloting day. I will meet with Pak Wiranto as soon as possible to discuss the latest security condition in the areas," he said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of migrants thronged to Banda Aceh, the capital city of Aceh, from Pidie, East Aceh and North Aceh, Antara reported on Monday.

Some of the migrants said they were seeking peace in the capital as their small towns were vulnerable to unrest.

"Shots are heard everywhere. Abductions and molestations are rampant, forcing us to leave our villages," said a man who refused to be named.

The chief of Greater Aceh Police, Lt. Col. Deddy Suryadi, confirmed the exodus to Banda Aceh.

"We just made a sweep... on the border of Banda Aceh, and found the new arrivals from vulnerable North Aceh and Pidie," Suryadi said.

Separately, the Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP) protested on Monday KPU's decision to hold polls in the three regencies.

"Why push an election in those troubled areas? The KPU decision to continue the planned polls is proof that the commission is only thinking about the polls but neglecting the safety and security of the Acehnese," KIPP's Otto Syamsuddin was quoted as saying by the news agency. (prb/edt)