MOU signed to curb violence ahead of general election
MOU signed to curb violence ahead of general election
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
In a bid to minimize violence prior to and during the general
election next year, the Jakarta Police, Jakarta's Chapter of the
General Elections Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) and the
Jakarta Prosecutor's Office signed on Tuesday a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU).
The MOU was signed by city police chief Insp. Gen. Makbul
Padmanagara, head of the Jakarta office of Panwaslu Sarluhut
Napitupulu and Jakarta Prosecutor's Office head Moeljoharjo at
city police headquarters.
Sarluhut said that based on the MOU, election offenders would
face shorter police proceedings. The legal process should be less
than 30 days, just like ticketing for traffic violators.
"Panwaslu is responsible to solve disputes among political
parties while the General Elections Commission (KPU) must oversee
any administrative violations and the police handle crimes," he
said.
The MOU was signed followed the fresh bloody clashes in Bali
between supporters of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle
(PDI Perjuangan) and the Golkar Party on Sunday in Buleleng, some
100 kilometers north of Denpasar. At least, two people were
killed.
Political observers have warned that the clashes would become
a bad pretext for other clashes between parties' supporters in
the future, ahead of the elections.
Makbul also warned the public on similar threats.
"We have collected all necessary information (about possible
threats to the elections), including possible conflict between
parties' supporters," he said.
He promised that police would take stern action against any
violations by party supporters.
On May 12, Panwaslu and National Police signed an MOU on the
establishment of district election supervisory bodies. Both
parties had agreed to select local police officers as district
supervisors.
The general election will be held on April 5. The country will
also have its first direct presidential election, scheduled for
July 5, with the run-off on Sept. 20.