More police personnel sent to conflict area during polls
Abdul Khalik The Jakarta Post Jakarta
The National Police have deployed over 7,000 reinforcement personnel to three conflict-prone areas to help the existing forces there maintain security and order, prior to and during the elections.
Of the reinforcement troops, 5,000 have been sent to Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD), with 800 personnel sent to Central Sulawesi and the rest to Maluku, the last two were rocked by sectarian conflict between 1999 and 2002.
"We sent the reinforcements in anticipation of incidents that could disrupt the elections," National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Soenarko said.
Currently, Aceh Police have 7,181 personnel, excluding around 15,000 personnel who are now backing the military operation to quell rebellion in the natural resource-rich province. Central Sulawesi, which is still plagued by sporadic violence in Poso, has 4,999 personnel, and Maluku has 3,525.
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar had said previously that two thirds of the existing police force would devote their time and energy to secure the elections. Indonesia has around 280,000 police personnel.
National Intelligence Body (BIN) chief A.M. Hendropriyono has dismissed fears of chaotic elections, but asked the security authorities to remain on alert.
Soenarko said the police would also upgrade their equipment for the elections period.
"We will add vehicles, such as patrol cars and motorbikes, as well as telecommunications devices, such as walkie-talkies, for each police station," said Soenarko.
To cope with security problems in conflict-prone areas, the police have ordered 37,000 rifles from the Army Industrial Affairs Center (Pindad) in Bandung. The new weapons are expected to be delivered at the end of March.
Only 80,000 police in the country currently carry guns.
Soenarko said each police station had already been equipped with at least one patrol car and four motorbikes, as well as communication devices to enable the station to keep in touch with Jakarta headquarters. Each police precinct has been provided with at least two vans and one truck.
Apart from police personnel, the National Police have trained around 1.2 million civilians to help maintain security in their neighborhoods.
"At least one police personnel and two neighborhood guards will be deployed to each polling station, but in conflict-prone areas the combination could be increased to four police and six neighborhood guards. Regional police chiefs have the discretion to decide," Soenarko said.
Riot squads would also assist each regional police personnel. Squad members would only be armed with sticks and shields.
Soenarko said the Indonesian Military (TNI) would provide back-up troops upon request.
"Each military command will allocate some of its soldiers for the elections. Of course TNI will pay special attention to conflict-prone areas," Soenarko said.
He said 3,622 TNI soldiers would support the police in Aceh, 667 soldiers in Central Sulawesi and 500 in Maluku. Nationwide, TNI has reserved 38,515 personnel for elections security.
Indonesia will hold the legislative election on April 5 and the unprecedented direct presidential election on July 5., with the runoff on Sept. 20.