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.