TNI in a state of alert for successful elections

TNI in a state of alert for successful elections

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The troubles surrounding the preparations for the general
elections has led the Indonesian Military to put itself on high
alert, Chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said.

On Friday he instructed all subordinates to maximize the use
of military facilities to support the General Elections
Commission (KPU) in its distribution of election materials,
primarily the ballot papers, for the April 5 election.

"This is an emergency situation," he said, implying officers
in the field would have to do without the standard distribution
procedures taken by election authorities.

The TNI had asked the KPU and the local KPU offices (KPUD) to
inform each military command over plans to load election
materials at least four days before the process, but so far they
had failed to do so.

The TNI, the commander said, was ready to support the KPU "to
prevent possible accusations that we're not helping the
elections."

Because the KPU had failed to do its part if the materials
didn't arrive in time, it should be blamed on the KPU's
unreadiness, Endriartono said during the appointments of Vice
Adm. Sumarjono as a commander of TNI's staff and command
colleges; and Vice Adm. Heru Srijanto as commander general of
TNI's Military Academy.

Meanwhile, the People's Voter Education Network (JPPR) called
for a week-long postponement of the legislative election due to
many unprinted or damaged ballot papers and asked the KPU to
publicly disclose the real situation.

Meanwhile, in the campaigns on Friday, a campaigner of the
Islamic-based Crescent Star Party (PBB) said it was okay for
people to vote for either the PBB or their "brother"
organizations -- the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the
Indonesia United Nahdlatul Ummah Party (PPNUI), the United
Development Party (PPP) and the Reform Star Party (PBR).

The parties "are our brothers," legislative candidate Saman
Husni told some 1,500 supporters at the Pramuka park in South
Jakarta.

Conspiciously absent from the "brotherhood" was the National
Awakening Party (PKB), also popular in the ranks of the largest
Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, which is labeled as a
moderate "traditionalist" party compared to the more hardline PKS
and PBB.

Most of the supporters, like those of other parties, were keen
to start a convoy on their motorcycles.

In Senayan Basket Hall, Central Jakarta, some 1,500 PPP
supporters gathered to hear their legislative candidates who
repeated promises to uphold Islamic law, give people free
education, and to eradicate corruption, collusion and nepotism.

Again, the supporters preferred to sing and dance and
proceeded to join a huge convoy of PPP supporters, including
children. They seemed unaware of KPU campaign restrictions, as
some brought children under the age of seven to campaign.

Separately, hundreds of supporters of the Marhaenisme
Indonesian National Party (PNI Marhaenisme), mostly in their
teens, met at the Ragunan sports complex near the city zoo in
South Jakarta. Many left after the break for Friday prayers.

The tight resources of the small parties was obvious. The
Freedom Party only campaigned in East Jakarta although the
Jakarta General Election Commission (KPU Jakarta) had prepared
campaign venues in five municipalities.

Stressing their platform of a "community-based" economy, the
campaigners said current economic development did not prioritize
the people's welfare.