Government assures public of timely, peaceful elections

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakart Post, Jakarta

Amid fear of possible widespread chaos in the run-up to, during, and after the upcoming elections, the government assured the public on Monday that it had prepared contingency plans to anticipate any eventuality.

Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, however, said that the plans could not be disclosed to the public, arguing that their revelation would only encourage certain parties to destabilize the upcoming political events.

At least 24 political parties will participate in the legislative election on April 5, followed by the presidential election on July 5, and a possible runoff on Sept. 20.

However, fear of widespread chaos looms large as the General Elections Commission (KPU) has failed to keep pace with its own elections timetable.

The production of ballot boxes, for example, has encountered a serious problem as the tender winner failed to fulfill its target. The printing of ballot papers has yet to start, ten days behind the original schedule of Feb. 1. KPU has yet to announce the winner of the ink tender to import ink from India.

Ministers responsible to the coordinating minister for political affairs held a meeting on Monday to draw up contingency plans for the elections.

The meeting was also attended by KPU chairman Nazaruddin Syamsuddin, police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar, Indonesian Military (TNI) chief for general affairs Lt. Gen. Djamari Chaniago and Aceh Martial Administrator Maj. Gen. Endang Suwarya.

Briefing the media after the meeting, Da'i said that police planned to deploy around 180,000 officers to ensure security nationwide during the elections.

Nazaruddin expressed optimism that the ballot boxes would be ready for the upcoming elections.

"We have appointed other companies to supply boxes and expect that all of them will be ready on time," Nazaruddin said.

Asked whether the government would take over the organization of the elections if the KPU failed to carry out its duty, Susilo said: "As the government, we hope the country will see the elections pass without problems. We shall do whatever is necessary to ensure this happens."

He further said that the TNI would support the distribution of election materials such as ballot papers and ballot boxes to various locations nationwide.

Meanwhile, Endang said he had classified war-torn Aceh into three categories: troubled areas, believed to be strongholds of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM); gray areas, where GAM and pro- Indonesian people were split fifty-fifty and secure, GAM-free areas.

"We have separated the territory into 10,000 polling stations and will dispatch troops to guard each place," said Endang, adding that troops would focus security efforts on possible threats from rebels, instead of clashes among party supporters.