Governor Machmud pessimistic about elections in Aceh

JAKARTA (JP): Aceh Governor Syamsuddin Machmud was pessimistic that local elections in three troubled regencies in Aceh could be held even though they were not due for another six months.

"I'm pessimistic the planned elections can be held in those three regencies," he said in a meeting with the Local Election Committee (PPL) here on Monday.

"Quite frankly, the situation at present in North Aceh, Beureun and Pidie is similar to that before the June 7 general election, but conditions on the Seumeleu Islands is relatively secure and conducive".

The General Election Commission (KPU) is making preparations for local elections in several newly-developed provinces and regencies to establish their provincial and regency legislative councils.

Followup elections in 33 regencies and mayoralties across the country's three new provinces will be held simultaneously on June 10 next year.

The government created three new provinces -- North Maluku, Central Irian Jaya and East Irian Jaya -- and 31 new regencies and mayoralties through Laws No. 45 to No. 55, enacted in the final month of B.J. Habibie's administration in October.

The new regencies include the Seumeleu Islands and Biereuen in Aceh.

Elections will also be held in two other Aceh regencies of Pidie and North Aceh, whose people failed to go to the polls on the June 7 general election day due to security concerns.

With the application of grater provincial autonomy, regional councils will carry greater weight.

New provincial legislators, for example, are scheduled to elect new governors in the new provinces and new regents in the new regencies weeks after the local elections.

The followup elections are expected to cost the state more than Rp 200 billion.

Aceh and Maluku have been the scenes of almost incessant violence and killings, reported almost every day.

Committee Chairman Rudini said the commission would not forcefully hold local elections if the situation in the region was not conducive.

"It will depend on the government and security authorities whether local elections can be held in the troubled regencies," he said, citing security conditions in North Maluku as also being questionable.

Given such circumstances, it is possible that the local elections will not be held simultaneously in all the regions.

"There's no problem for us if local elections cannot be held on the same date. We will report these hurdles to the President who is responsible for the elections," Rudini said.

One other obstacle is the geographic location of several regencies which are difficult to reach.

Committee chairman Agus Mifthah said the local election committee had decided to adopt the electoral code of ethics which was employed during the last general election with one key additional ruling.

"All government officials and election committee staff will be barred from campaigning for their parties. This ruling has to be enforced to ensure the fairness of the elections," he said. (rms)