Election delays unavoidable in some areas

Election delays unavoidable in some areas

The Jakarta Post, Bandung/Jayapura/Kupang

Most parts of the nation voted in the legislative election on
Monday, except for some isolated parts of Papua and war-torn
villages in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam.

National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said on Monday an
election in at least 48 villages of a total 6,000 in Aceh could
not be held as they were controlled by Free Aceh Movement (GAM)
rebels. GAM control had rendered it impossible to distribute
election materials, the police chief said.

General Elections Commission (KPU) chairman Nazaruddin
Sjamsuddin acknowledged the delay to the election in a number of
districts across the country.

"We have tried to meet the need for election materials in the
districts. The polls were delayed as many polling stations there
did not receive the materials until Monday morning," he said.

Papua Provincial Elections Commission (KPUD) secretary Hasyim
Sangaji said on Monday polls had been delayed in 513 polling
stations scattered in seven of 20 regencies in the province.

Delayed elections are a certainty in Jayawijaya in 183 of 637
polling stations, Tolikara (156, 204), Merauke (72, 414), Bintang
mountains (63, 205), Mappi (38, 184), Puncak Jaya (1, 117) and
Paniai (no data available yet).

"The delays are unavoidable as ballot papers did not reach the
polling stations until election day due to difficult terrain,"
Sangaji said.

"It is difficult to predict when the election will eventually
take place. It depends upon the arrival of the ballot papers."

So far, more than 10 airplanes have been chartered to help
speed up the distribution of ballot papers there, but bad weather
has prevented the aircraft from reaching the areas.

Nazaruddin said a delayed election was expected to be held
within the next three days, but the decision would be made by the
KPUD.

Manokwari Regent Dominggus Madacan said 48 of 585 polling
stations in the regency could not organize a legislative election
due to a shortage of ballot papers.

Chairman of Manokwari KPUD JM Ayomi said he had met with
political party leaders and they all agreed to the delay.

Ayomi said the KPU had sent approximately 99,000 papers in 198
boxes but only 181 boxes had arrived, containing 90,500 papers.

Outside the conflict-prone provinces of Aceh and Papua,
election delays occurred in 20 polling stations in Manggarai
regency, East Nusa Tenggara, after election materials failed to
reach the stations due to poor weather.

Head of the provincial elections commission Robinson Ratu Kore
said the polling stations were located in Elor and Mboro
subdistricts.

The government issued on Friday a regulation in lieu of law to
anticipate election delays as a result of logistical problems.
The regulation amended the election law, which says a delay is
permissible in the event of riot, natural disaster or security
disturbance.

The KPU apologized on Sunday for the hiccups in its
preparations for the election, which was marked by repeated
delays in the procurement of election materials.

Separately, House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung
expressed confidence the delay would not affect the outcome of
the elections.