Police tighten security ahead of runoff
Abdul Khalik, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
Police are tightening security across the country ahead of the presidential election, deploying 190,000 officers, with trouble spots like Poso in Central Sulawesi, Ambon, Papua and Aceh getting most of the extra manpower.
"We began deploying personnel right before the campaign began on Sept. 14. This tight security will last until the winning candidate is inaugurated on Oct. 20. We will give special attention to conflict areas," National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said. Police tighten security ahead of runoff
He said more than 37,900 Indonesian Military (TNI) troops would assist the police to secure the election and another 1.2 million civilian guards would help police to secure polling stations.
In general, the military would be serve in a standby support role, while police and civilian guards would do most of the work, he said.
Da'i said new reinforcements, including thousands of members of the Mobile Brigade unit and dozens of bomb-handlers had been sent to Aceh, Poso, Papua and Ambon.
Police would divide troubled areas into three parts; the secured, dangerous and "black" areas. The black, or the most dangerous areas, would be guarded by the military while the Mobile Brigade units would secure the other areas. Three to five polling stations in each area would be guarded by up to 15 officers, he said.
In other regions, one police officer would guard two or three stations and would be assisted by six to eight civilian guards at each station.
Da'i said his office had provided about Rp 85 billion to cover the cost of securing the election.
To anticipate bomb attacks, Da'i said all intelligence personnel, counterterror squad members, and other special units in the regional police had been fully deployed.
Da'i said police had also anticipated possible post-election conflicts because of dissatisfaction over the outcome.
"Based on our experiences in the two previous elections, candidates not happy with the vote usually submit their complaints in accordance with regulations. However, we have to establish a security method to prevent conflict if the losers' supporters run amok," he said.
Da'i said police would also utilize the latest information technology, including the Internet, to monitor all regions throughout the country.
"Every police precinct has been installed with a computer and the Internet. We can monitor each station from the national headquarters if something happens," he said.
Incumbent President Megawati Soekarnoputri and running mate Hazyim Muzadi go up against Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla in the Sept. 20 runoff.
On October 5, the General Elections Commission will announce the vote results, and the winner would be inaugurated on Oct. 20.