Police urge parties not to deploy paramilitaries
Police urge parties not to deploy paramilitaries
Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Concern over possible clashes between supporters of the nation's
24 political parties in the campaign period prior to next year's
general election has prompted the city administration and Jakarta
Police to ask parties not to deploy their paramilitary wings.
"It is unnecessary for parties to deploy members of their
paramilitary wings. Of course, we can't simply ban them for doing
so, but please leave security matters to the police," said
Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Makbul Padmanagara on Wednesday
in a meeting between the city police, political leaders and the
administration.
The fact that many supporters of political parties carried
their parties' symbol during takbiran, the parade on the eve of
Idul Fitri on Nov. 24 when people repeatedly chant Allahu Akbar
(God is great), has added to the concern.
"We will take New Year's Eve as a test case. Police and the
General Election Supervisory Committee (Panwaslu) will monitor
the situation. We don't want a repeat of disguised campaigns, as
happened during takbiran," Makbul said.
Anxiety about the presence of paramilitary wings of political
parties has risen after two Golkar supports were killed during a
bloody clash with supporters of the Indonesian Democratic Party
of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) in Buleleng, Bali, in October.
The General Elections Commission (KPU) announced last Sunday
that 24 political parties were eligible to contest the 2004
election. Some of the parties already have their own security
forces.
Makbul warned existing paramilitary groups not to wear
military-style uniforms and attributes including carrying
daggers.
Jakarta Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo suggested the establishment
of a forum to coordinate contesting political parties and their
respective paramilitary wings to avoid clashes.
The city administration had earlier said that it would
prohibit the establishment of political party posts for the same
reason.
Instead, the administration would finance the establishment of
joint posts for parties in each subdistrict.
To uphold security in the capital during the election, the
city police will deploy all their 25,000 personnel starting from
the campaigning period in March until the close of the elections
in October.
The police will get back up from the Jakarta Military Command.
"Police and military personnel must safeguard a total of
22,005 polling stations across the city. We will also employ a
patrolling system in 253 areas on motorcycles, cars and trucks
and speed boats," Makbul said.
The patrolling policemen will maintain contact with security
guards and civilian guards throughout the city. The guards are
also tasked with directly monitoring security at polling stations
in their neighborhoods.
Makbul asserted that police would take action against any
violations of the law, including traffic regulations, as the
latter are expected to increase during the campaign period.
Supporters usually parade across the city, sitting atop cars
and buses, ignorant of the fact that their actions could endanger
both themselves and other motorists.