No poll monitors yet in Aceh

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