Pythons to be deployed for polls

Pythons to be deployed for polls

SEMARANG, Central Java (JP): Military authorities in this
Central Java city are planning to deploy at least 20 pythons to
safeguard the May general election and the March 1998
presidential election.

Lt. Col. Harry Purdianto of Central Java's infantry battalion
was quoted by the Suara Merdeka daily as saying yesterday the
pythons, about six meters long and weighing 15 kilograms, would
take part in safeguarding the polls, particularly against
antigovernment demonstrators.

"We are also preparing snake charmers, in case unexpected
things happen," Harry said. If the demonstrators persist and get
through the snakes, another layer of security personnel would be
ready with rifles and rubber bullets, he added.

The May 29 general election will be preceded by a four-week-
long campaign.

More than 120 million Indonesians are eligible to vote in the
sixth general election under President Soeharto's administration
and the seventh since Indonesia gained independence in 1945.
(swe)