Over 1.3 million to secure polls
Over 1.3 million to secure polls
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
While saying that police had not detected any groups planning to
disturb the elections, Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said on Tuesday that
over 1.3 million police, military personnel and civilians had
been made ready to safeguard the five-yearly event.
He added that police would step up security measures during
the campaigning period to avoid possible clashes between
political party supporters.
"We shall cooperate with the task force from each political
party," the police chief told a hearing with House of
Representatives (DPR) Commission I for security affairs.
Indonesia will organize the legislative election on April 5,
followed by a presidential election on July 5, and a possible
runoff for the top two candidates on Sept. 20.
Delays in ballot box production and ballot paper printing have
raised fears that the elections might not take place as
scheduled, a situation that could lead to widespread chaos.
Da'i said an operation, Mantap Brata XII-2004, had been
prepared to ensure that the elections proceeded smoothly and
peacefully.
The operation, according to Da'i, would involve 180,000
police, 38,000 military personnel and a civilian defense force of
over 1.1 million, commonly known as hansip.
He stated that his office was organizing regular training for
those recruited to provide security for the elections.
Da'i also hoped that local administrations -- both provincial
and regental/municipal -- would help provide financial assistance
for the civilian defense forces.
He disclosed that the funding for military personnel would be
taken from the police budget while that for civilian defense
forces would come from local branches of the General Elections
Commission (KPU).
He did not say how much each of the more than 1.3 million
people would receive or how long they would be on duty.
Regarding the police contingency plan, Da'i said police at
each level -- provincial, regental or district -- would have the
responsibility to maintain security in their respective
territories.
"Regional police chiefs will cooperate with regional military
commanders and local administrations," he said.
Meanwhile, a total 7,362 civilian personnel started a seven-
day training session in North Aceh regency on Monday, during
which they would receive Rp 20,000 pocket money each day.
M. Kasam, 30, from Lhoksukon district, some 36 kilometers east
of Lhokseumawe, said that village heads in that area appointed
eight to nine people to participate in the exercises.
"I am only following others. I do not know the job of the
civilian forces exactly," he said.
Fellow trainee Muslim, 24, acknowledged that he had undertaken
the training for the money.
Those attending the training were equipped with batons, shoes
and uniforms. Within seven days, they would receive training in
self-defense, marching, patrolling and securing polling stations.
Edi Munawar, a policeman who ran the training, said that the
deployment of civilian forces would depend on the demands of the
local branches of the Elections Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu).
He added that about eight to nine people would be deployed to
secure a polling station in "risky" areas.
In a related development, Poso Regent Muin Pusadan from
Central Sulawesi was optimistic that the general election would
take place peacefully in the region.
Officials with the local administration had been disseminating
information about the election and received a warm welcome from
the public.
Central Sulawesi Police have identified four districts --
downtown Poso, coastal Poso, Tojo and North Pamona -- as areas at
risk.
Antara reported on Tuesday that police would deploy two-thirds
of their personnel, or about 3,336 officers, to secure elections
in that area.