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.