Jakartans told to use their right to vote

JAKARTA (JP): City Police Chief Maj. Gen. Hamami Nata called on all Jakartans yesterday to exercise their right to vote in next year's general election.

"We hope all residents will be willing to cast their ballots properly in the upcoming election," he told reporters after replacing the head of the Central Jakarta police precinct.

"I think all of us want the 1997 general election to proceed smoothly. We must improve on the elections in the past," said the two-star general.

By using their right properly, the public will avoid those intending to disturb the election from carrying out their mission.

According to the Jakarta Election Committee, a total of 7,453,416 Jakartans have been registered as voters for the 1997 general election.

The number of voters, said the committee's secretary Bagus Suharyono, is 46.02 percent higher than the 5,104,473 voters registered at the last general election, in 1992.

The committee recorded a total of 9,851,467 people currently living in the capital.

The voters will vote for 18 legislators in the House of Representatives and 75 city councilors.

Hamami also stressed that the police would not condone any efforts to disrupt the election," he said.

According to the officer, a large number of the 16,000 personnel in the Greater Jakarta police force are currently taking part in an intensive training program learning a wide range of skills, including how to face demonstrators.

"They even got real practice during the mass brawls and vandalism committed by football supporters here last weekend," said Hamami after the inauguration ceremony.

Hamami installed Lt. Col. Muhammad Ibrahim as new head of the Central Jakarta police precinct, to replace Col. Abubakar Nataprawira who is promoted to head the Palembang police in South Sumatra.

Ibrahim was previously head of the North Jakarta police. (bsr)