'Fiesta of democracy' absent in Aceh districts

LHOKSEUMAWE, Aceh (Antara): "Different ponds, different fish; different fields, different grasshoppers," so the old adage goes.

These words of wisdom seem to be reflected in the style of campaigning adopted by political parties contesting the June 7 general election in three districts in Aceh: North Aceh, East Aceh and Pidie.

Even though the last day of the election campaign is drawing near, supporters of political parties contesting the elections in these three districts have not met their parties' leaders, a common event in other parts of the country during this so-called "festival of democracy".

These three districts, formerly military operation zones, have not seen party gatherings with party leaders or convoys of vehicles jamming the streets, events which have highlighted the election campaign across the rest of the country.

If not for the presence of party flags and banners along a number of main thoroughfares, people in North Aceh, East Aceh and Pidie would hardly be aware that a general election was fast approaching.

"No political parties have campaigned in these three districts. So the people in these three districts have not seen mass gatherings or convoys of vehicles," the head of the North Aceh office of sociopolitical affairs, Marzuki Abdullah, said.

Even Golkar Party, which in previous election campaigns featured popular singers and film stars from Jakarta to mobilize the masses, has not attempted to campaign here.

In North Aceh, with a population of some 1 million, only 35 of the 48 parties contesting the upcoming elections are represented, while 22.64 percent of a total 555,154 eligible voters have registered to vote.

Political parties in North Aceh, East Aceh and Pidie have not held rallies during the campaign period because several riots have rocked the province of Aceh, Indonesia's westernmost.

Apart from threats from the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), which has reportedly attempted to foil the elections through intimidation and violence, leaders of political parties in these three districts also fear for their own safety.

The burning of the office of the North Aceh branch of Golkar Party -- allegedly a sign of pressure from what the government calls the Hasan Tiro Security Disturbance Group -- has diminished the enthusiasm of political parties in the district.

"It is true that GAM has never disturbed a large rally during an election campaign but the leaders of political parties have decided not to put up a show of force like in other areas of Indonesia," Marzuki said.

Two weeks ago, unknown persons attacked supporters of the United Development Party (PPP) and the Muslim Community Party (PUI) in Teunom, West Aceh.

"Two trucks carrying supporters of these two parties were stopped on the way to a rally. The passengers were forced to get down and then the trucks were set on fire by an unidentified group of people," Marzuki said.

Admission

Commander of Military Region I/Bukit Barisan Maj. Gen. A Gaffar said three of 12 districts in Aceh were unsafe for political parties to hold street rallies, therefore parties' decision not to campaign in these districts was considered appropriate.

"Parties stay away from campaigning not because of any prohibition or because of the absence of a security guarantee from local security apparatus, but rather because of their own considerations," he said in Lhokseumawe.

He also said that the number of registered voters in these three districts was much smaller compared to previous elections. In North Aceh, 12.5 percent of eligible voters have registered, in Pidie 13 percent have registered and in East Aceh 60 percent of eligible voters have registered.

Voter registration in East Aceh has been more successful than in North Aceh and Pidie, while in the other districts of Aceh voter registration has proceeded with few problems.

"It must be admitted that three of the 12 districts in Aceh have a poor security situation. These are North Aceh, Pidie and East Aceh," Gaffar said.

In previous elections, campaigns in these three districts took place in the same manner as they did in the other districts of Aceh, while the political consciousness of the residents of the three districts was relatively higher than residents in other districts, he said.

Chief of Aceh Police Col. Djuharnus Wiradinata said some time ago that provocation had intensified in the region with a view to foil the upcoming polls.

More rural administration offices and police stations in these three districts have been burned, evidence of attempts to provoke violence in the region and cause insecurity in Aceh, he said.

"These acts of arson must have been committed by people who do not wish to see the Acehnese live in peace," he said.

To ensure security so the community can live in peace, Aceh Police have readied over 8,000 members of the police, military and militia to safeguard polling booths in the province.

Djuharnus said the police would be assisted by crack riot troops, all in an effort to bring peace and security to the community.