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.