Grave violations reported during election in Aceh

Grave violations reported during election in Aceh

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Several local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) reported vote
buying on Tuesday allegedly committed by political parties ahead
of the April 5 poll.

The NGOs said election violations were rampant in the
regencies of Southeast Aceh, Sabang and Singkil, which are
considered territories loyal to the Unitary Republic of
Indonesia, as well as in regencies known to be strongholds of the
Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatist group, such as East Aceh,
Pidie and North Aceh.

"In Southeast Aceh, especially at a polling station in Ujung
Barat village in the subdistrict of Babussalam, all ballots had
been punched prior to the election day," the Aceh NGO Forum said
in its report.

The NGOs said its volunteers found members of Pemuda
Pancasila, a youth organization affiliated to Golkar Party,
guarding the polling station which was located in front of the
house of the village head.

"Voting finished at 9:30 a.m. with 100 percent of the vote
going to Golkar," the forum said.

Also in Southeast Aceh, the forum reported that Golkar had
distributed 50 kilograms of rice to each family living in 20
villages there.

In Singkil, the forum said it found that Golkar had
distributed packages of basic commodities to voters ahead of the
election day.

"The package comprised rice, sugar, kerosene and palm oil,"
the forum said.

In Sabang, Golkar distributed free breakfast before the
balloting, the report said.

The forum worked with the Civil Society Alliance for Democracy
(Yappika), which is led by rights activist and sociologist Otto
Syamsuddin Ishak, in conducting the monitoring.

At least 406 volunteers were dispatched to 20 districts across
the war-torn province to observe the process before, during and
after the voting.

The forum said in West Langsa subdistrict in East Aceh, the
United Development Party (PPP) distributed Rp 10,000 (US$1.17) to
each voter. Pamphlets were distributed from a car in Pidie asking
for support for well-known local religious leaders who were
contesting the election representing PPP.

In North Aceh, most voters came to the polling stations
without voter cards. They were allowed to vote upon the
invitation of local poll committee members. In Singkil, two
people with ID cards issued by the Medan administration, were
allowed to vote, the report said.

House of Representatives legislators, however, billed the
election as "fair". They said the election had taken place in a
democratic atmosphere, while security was maintained.

"I observed the election here firsthand and am convinced that
the election took place fairly and safely," Franklin William
Kaihatu, a legislator from House Commission I for political,
security and foreign affairs, said as quoted by Antara.

Joining Kaihatu during the visit were Permadi from the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and Aisyah Amini
from PPP. Accompanied by Aceh governor Abdullah Puteh, they
observed a polling station located in Lhoknga area.