Military guarantees election security in Aceh

Military guarantees election security in Aceh

Teuku Agam Muzakir, The Jakarta Post, Lhokseumawe, Aceh

The martial law administration in Aceh will deploy all of its
forces to ensure the upcoming general election will be a success
in the province, a military official said on Monday.

Expressing his optimism for successful elections to thousands
of civilian guards who will help maintain security during the
polls here, martial law administrator Maj. Gen. Endang Suwarya
said he was prepared with a strategy to enhance security
throughout the elections in the province.

"Besides some 40,000 security personnel tasked to hunt for
rebels, we are ready with about 60,000 civilians assigned to
provide protection for voters, election organizers and polling
stations," he said.

Endang, a former chief of the Banda Aceh military district,
also expressed his pride in the progress made by the province
since the imposition of martial law last May.

He said an increasing number of Acehnese residents had
registered to serve as civilian guards during the elections, an
indication the situation in the province was gradually returning
to normal.

"In the 1999 elections, residents did not want to become
civilian guards. Now the number of registrants is increasing," he
said.

Endang conceded that despite military operations in Aceh
entering their ninth month, the situation in certain areas of the
province known as traditional strongholds of the Free Aceh
Movement (GAM) remained unstable and prone to security
disturbances.

Observers have expressed skepticism about the ability to hold
democratic elections during martial law, saying the polls would
run smoothly but voters could face physical and psychological
pressure from security and paramilitary personnel.