Remote places unmonitored

Remote places unmonitored

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: The local branch of the Independent Election Monitoring Committee (KIPPDA) has no human resources to reach remote areas where poll rigging is highly probable.

KIPPDA secretary-general Patrick Passasung told Antara Saturday that the isolated areas it could not afford to monitor include the sprawling Wakatobi islands, Buton regency and coastal districts of Kendari.

The poll watchdog will focus on subdistrict towns on the mainland due to limited resources, although poll rigging maybe less worrisome, he said.

It is still finding ways to recruit volunteers for the remote islands from among the islanders, although it doubts whether they can file reports on time given the poor communication facilities.

KIPPDA claims to have 2,817 volunteers to monitor the election process.