Officer promises safe Papua polls

Officer promises safe Papua polls

JAYAPURA, Papua: A top military officer in Papua said on Friday
the June elections in the province would be undisturbed.

"The military has not detected any indications that Papuan
separatists will disrupt the elections, which will be held
simultaneously on June 27," said the head of the Trikora Military
Command overseeing Papua, Maj. Gen. Nurdin Zainal.

The two-star general said the military would beef up security
during the elections in Papua's 13 regencies and municipalities.

At least 1,000 soldiers from the Trikora Military Command, not
including Army intelligence officers, will be deployed to the
areas where the polls will be held, Nurdin said.

The soldiers will support some 5,000 police officers who will
be assigned to ensure security during the voting. -- JP