North Sumatra Police ready for polls

MEDAN, North Sumatra: The North Sumatra Provincial Police will deploy 10,163 police personnel to safeguard the 2004 general election.

The deputy chief of the North Sumatra Provincial Police, Brig. Gen. Maman Supratman, said that the deployment was aimed at guarding against possible disturbance during the election.

"Disturbances can occur ahead of and during the elections, and we are trying to make sure they will not take place during the elections," he said, after attending a police rehearsal in preparation for the elections.

In the rehearsal, the police personnel displayed their ability to deal with demonstrations, among other things. -- JP