Police up surveillance over fears of sectarian violence

MEDAN: The North Sumatra Police have announced they will hunt down those who campaign for sectarian issues ahead of upcoming regional elections in the province.

Many recent campaigns have been tainted with sectarian agendas in the build up to recent poll days in several regencies and municipalities in the province.

Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Baharuddin Djafar said that sur-veillance had been heightened as a precaution against possible conflicts triggered by racial or sectarian issues. "Elections in those regions pose a threat of conflicts. But the police have anticipated that," Baharuddin said Thursday.

Elections in Sibolga and Humbang Husundutan were marred by violence that saw three district offices assaulted by an angry mob angered by poll results in Sibolga, and in Husundutan a group of protesters disrupted a campaign rally of a rival candidate after their own candidate had been disqualified. - JP