BIN predicts smooth and peaceful general elections
BIN predicts smooth and peaceful general elections
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Chief of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) Lt. Gen. (ret.)
A.M. Hendropriyono foresees no (major) security disturbances that
could obstruct the upcoming general election, saying several
minor conflicts may occur but they could be kept under control.
"Security authorities, mainly the police, the military and BIN
have been monitoring all areas across the country to make sure
that the elections go smoothly.
"Of course, there might be minor disturbances, but I'm sure
that it won't disrupt the political events," Hendropriyono said
in a seminar on intelligence at the University of Indonesia here
on Wednesday.
He said BIN has detected several groups who were trying to
foil the elections but they could not do so as authorities were
already aware of their operative method. He declined to identify
the groups.
"We have given the green light to the government to go ahead
with the elections," he said.
More than 145 million voters will go to polling stations to
vote in the legislative and presidential elections. Twenty-four
political parties will be contesting the legislative election on
April 5.
Fear of widespread confusion in remote areas looms as the
General Elections Commission (KPU) has been behind schedule in
making the necessary preparations for the legislative elections.
KPU has not yet finished distributing ballot boxes and ballot
papers to remote areas in Sulawesi, Maluku and Papua.
Many political observers and rights campaigners have expressed
their concern that the elections could not run democratically in
conflict-ridden Aceh due to the ongoing martial law and the
military operation to quell the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).
Meanwhile, National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said that
the police planned to deploy around 180,000 personnel to maintain
security and order nationwide during the elections.
He called on political parties to deploy their paramilitary
personnel to coordinate with security authorities to maintain
security during the election campaign period and the election
days.
Da'i also said that the police had provided protection for all
KPU members and staff in the regions to assist them in
preparations for the elections.
House Commission II chairman Teras Narang said the House would
monitor the usage of Rp 10.6 trillion allocated to finance the
election, including Rp 1.2 trillion for security expenditure.