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.