No poll monitors yet in Aceh

LHOKSEUMAWE, Aceh: The Aceh General Elections Commission (Aceh KPUD) stated on Saturday that no poll monitors, including foreign observers, had yet registered with them, although the March 11 electoral campaign period was fast approaching.

Aceh KPUD member Ridwan Ishak expressed his concern that poll violations would go unchecked in Aceh in the absence of poll monitors.

Many parties have already expressed doubts that the upcoming elections would be smooth, as the war-torn province was still under martial law, he said.

Yusuf Ismail Pase, a Regional Representatives Council member, said that poll observers were needed to show people that the elections in Aceh would be smooth, free and neutral. -- JP