Next round campaigns vulnerable to unrest

JAKARTA (JP): Four days ahead of the June 7 elections, officials and the National Police raised alarms on Tuesday over possible unrest in the final round of campaigning as parties would likely go all out in their last ditch attempt to lure voters.

Chairman of the General Elections Commission (KPU) Rudini and National Police chief Gen. Roesmanhadi revealed to reporters on Tuesday an evaluation of the first two rounds of the two weeks of campaigning showed a significant increase of violent incidents as well as breaches of election rules.

"All of the contesting parties will certainly push forward in high spirit, running massive rallies and trying their best to win people's attention," he said.

"Therefore, the possibility of clashes between party supporters and other form of vandalism will sharply increase, and this may lead to a riot," Roesmanhadi said.

The campaign period will conclude on Friday, followed by two days of a cooling-off period before voting on Monday.

Rudini seconded the general's opinion, saying that in addition to the heated political climate, there were strong indications of foul play by certain parties seeking to foil the poll.

"One example is the case of the damaged ballot papers. Theoretically, it would be impossible for the ballot print film to be mistakenly printed. All of the film has been carefully checked.

"Suddenly, abundant reports of misprinted ballots came to the surface in various areas. (In those ballot papers) Golkar's yellow sign was printed blue, the National Mandate Party (PAN) white-and-blue star became red and there were different party symbols printed underneath similar numbers," Rudini said.

The evaluation revealed that across the country, the first two phases of the campaign period claimed 174 lives, 13 of whom died at campaign locations. Most victims reportedly died in traffic accidents and clashes.

Roesmanhadi cited a report of a recent stabbing incident in South Kalimantan committed by a group of people wearing the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) attributes toward Golkar supporters.

"In North Sumatra, the campaign was highlighted by clashes between PDI Perjuangan supporters and PDI led by Bhudi Hardjono.

"Other party supporters' conflicts also took place on Bali, South Sulawesi and North Sulawesi," the four-star general said.

One of the country's hottest spots is Aceh, he added.

"The situation in the three troubled regencies of North Aceh, East Aceh and Pidie is being monitored minute by minute as certain parties try hard to foil the elections there," Roesmanhadi said.

Police will assist the poll watchers in troubled provinces following reports of intimidation and abuse of volunteers from the University Network for Free and Fair Elections (Unfrel), he added.

"More protection is needed there as it is hard to differentiate residents from separatists. Clear identification would be very helpful."

Roesmanhadi warned all related parties to intensify efforts to maintain security and be alert over possible provocation. "Don't get provoked."

A force of 800,000 police, soldiers and civilian security guards will be deployed on Indonesian streets in the run-up to the June 7 poll, which has been touted as the first free and fair election ever to be held in the country.

The evaluation from the first day of campaigning on May 19 up to Sunday disclosed a total of 12,783 traffic violations across the country within the campaign sites. Some 420 people got traffic tickets while 12,363 others received "sympathetic" warnings from the authorities.

While outside of the campaign sites there were 17,756 traffic violations, among which 7,982 people got traffic tickets and 10,110 people acquired simple warnings.

In the past two campaign rounds, police recorded 1,783 traffic signs vandalized and 357 others burned, 34 vehicles damaged, three cars torched, seven political parties' buildings plus nine houses and five public facilities also vandalized.

Roesmanhadi reaffirmed that any attempts to disrupt the general election would be dealt with sternly.

"We will never allow anarchy to prevail, not only because it is against the law, but because we do not want the public to live in fear," he said.

Anarchy would deprive the public of their freedom and is thus incompatible with democracy, Rudini added.

Meanwhile, the Unfrel branch in Central Java reported that a total of 128 violations have been committed by political parties, seven by crowds of people and three by government officials.

Violations ranging from brandishing weapons, conflicts between party fans to money politics were recorded in the areas during the second-round of campaigns.

Separately in Tangerang, the Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPP) found that a Golkar Party legislative candidate from Cikupa district distributed Rp 2 million among people in return for party votes. (edt/41)