Specter of poll conflict haunts Sulawesi officials

Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Palu

Sulawesi election officials are worried that close-knit tribal bonds between voters and candidates on the island could stir up bloody conflicts in the upcoming regional elections.

West Sulawesi General Election Commission (KPU) official Rev. Dharma Sallata Putera said the intense loyalty of some supporters to their campaign leaders and candidates meant that many might not accept the outcome of the polls.

"I'm not worried about the candidates -- they are already a mature and intelligent elite. But I do worry about the campaign teams and their supporters. If their candidates lose the elections, the campaign teams could well provoke the grass roots and it would lead to chaos," Dharma said.

To prevent conflict, Dharma urged candidates to explain to their teams that winning or losing in the elections was normal.

"If the campaign team can be so convinced ... I believe that conflicts among supporters of the different candidates in the upcoming elections will not happen," he said.

Another KPU member, Yahdi Basma, said there were encouraging signs that the elections would proceed peacefully in the religiously divided regency of Poso. The registration process there had been completed peacefully and regental candidates in Poso had even signed peace pacts with each other, he said. "This is a good step and (the news of it) should be spread among their supporters."

However, Yahdi warned that conflict could still occur as the the campaigning heated up during the first week of June.

The mass mobilization of candidates' supporters was common in the area and security personnel must maintain a visible presence to avoid clashes among different groups, Yahdi said.

Meanwhile, Imam Sofyan, a lecturer at Tadulako University, believed conflict during direct regional elections would more likely stem from ethnic differences as family and tribal bonds in Central Sulawesi were strong.

"In Central Sulawesi, large tribes have a strong influence in society and if the bonds are not managed well, it can lead to conflict between the followers," Imam said.

Most regional candidates in Sulawesi came from prominent clans such as the Ponulele, Lamadjido, Pusadan and Bantilan. "Many voters will be closely associated with the candidates from their own clans. This loyalty will lead into conflict if it is not managed well," Imam said.

According to Imam, the peaceful presidential elections last year could not be barometer for the upcoming direct regional elections in Sulawesi.

Psychologically, local residents lived in a different world from the presidential and the vice presidential candidates, he said. However, during direct regional elections, the candidates were closer to the hearts of locals and if they lost the election, there was a bigger probability their supporters would not accept it, he said.