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.