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.