Police prepare for direct elections

Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post, Semarang

Over 500 senior police officers from across the archipelago are attending a four-day workshop in Semarang, Central Java, as the first ever elections for heads of regional governments draws near.

The officers -- from provincial police chiefs down to regental police chiefs -- are attending the workshop to listen to lectures by officials on the subject of the direct elections. They will also be briefed by experts on "best practices" in securing the elections.

Among the high ranking officials slated to give speeches during the function are the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo A.S, Minister of Home Affairs M. Ma'ruf, and chairman of the General Elections Commission (KPU) Nazaruddin Syamsuddin.

The workshop, held at a police academy in Semarang, is being attended by 30 provincial police chiefs, 33 regional chiefs, 435 regental and municipal chiefs, and 25 heads of State Police Schools.

"The function is aimed at providing information to chiefs of police units on the subject of direct elections and the best practices to secure them," said chief of National Police Gen. Da'i Bachtiar.

Officers were also given an evaluation of police performance in safeguarding the 2004 general elections and the subsequent presidential elections.

After the Semarang function, the central government will conduct a similar workshop in Jakarta that will be attended by all provincial police chiefs, provincial governors, and the Minister of Home Affairs, said Da'i.

Meanwhile, Insp. Gen. Didi Widayadi, the deputy chief of operations of the Indonesian Police, said that direct elections of heads of regional governments would take place in 226 provinces, regencies and municipalities across the nation this year.

"The busiest month this year will be in June, when 181 direct elections will take place, eight of them being for provincial governors," he said.

Didi said that the police will focus attention on elections being held in regions prone to conflict, such as Ambon, Papua and Poso.

Unlike in the past, citizens will now be able to vote directly for their preferred candidates for provincial governor, regent and/or mayor.