New Year's security a model for elections

New Year's security a model for elections

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The relatively peaceful New Year's Eve celebration in the capital
will be the benchmark for Jakarta Police to apply similar
measures to uphold security in the upcoming campaign period in
March until the completion of the elections in October.

"Learning from our experience, we will impose similar security
measures for the elections," said the city police chief, Insp.
Gen. Makbul Padmanagara, on Friday.

Makbul said his personnel would take stronger action against
those violating the law during the campaign period, especially
traffic violators.

"We won't allow supporters (of political parties) to parade
across the city by riding on open trucks, pick-up vehicles or by
sitting atop buses or cars as they could endanger their lives and
other motorists," he said.

Makbul warned that police would ticket motorists who violated
traffic regulations in campaign rallies and also report to the
Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) parties whose
supporters committed violations.

The police and Panwaslu have signed an agreement on violations
and crimes related to the elections. Police will handle criminal
cases, while Panwaslu will impose sanction on parties which
commit administrative violations.

During the New Year celebrations, police ticketed 650 traffic
violators and confiscated 39 motorcycles that did not have the
necessary documents.

A total of 25,000 police personnel will be deployed for the
elections. They will be supported by the Jakarta Military
Command.

The officers will safeguard a total of 22,005 polling stations
across the city. The joint forces will also patrol 253 areas on
motorcycles, cars and trucks and speed boats.

Makbul claimed that the number of traffic accidents in the New
Year celebrations were lower compared to last year, owing to
better public compliance with road rules.

"We received only two reports of traffic accidents during the
celebrations. One man was killed and others were slightly
injured," he claimed.

However, hospital sources reported that one person died and 19
people were injured in various car and motorcycles accidents. The
Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital in Central Jakarta reported
that 11 people were treated there for injuries sustained in
traffic accidents.