Aceh leaders upbeat on peaceful election

Regional leaders from across Aceh held a meeting at the Aceh legislative building on Tuesday to discuss security ahead of the upcoming gubernatorial election.

During the meeting, the legislature, regional administrations, police, Indonesian Military (TNI) and prosecutor’s office expressed confidence the election in Aceh would take place peacefully provided every stakeholder carried out their duties.

The meeting was also aimed at discussing the latest condition related to the security situation and measures to be taken to ensure a peaceful election. The executive institution was represented by interim Aceh governor Tarmizi Karim, the legislature by the Aceh legislative speaker and a number of commission members, the police by the Aceh Police chief and TNI by the provincial military commander.

“Administratively, we are ready to organize the Aceh election peacefully. I guarantee that the Aceh provincial administration has coordinated with regency and mayoralty administrations and there are no excuses for them not to be able to hold the ballot on April 9 peacefully,” said Tarmizi.

The police and the TNI expressed they were prepared to do their utmost to secure the election, especially to ensure public security when voters arrived at polling stations to cast their votes. The preparation includes mobilizing ballot materials and funds, and troop deployment.

“We have been preparing long beforehand to face the election so that it will be a success. We have also carried out consolidation within the police force up to the district and village levels,” said Aceh Police chief Insp. Gen. Iskandar Hasan.

Iskandar said the police had also coordinated with the TNI to be prepared whenever needed. Besides that, the police had also intensified operations and raids to prevent illegal arms circulation and violence during the election.

“I have so far received 10 illegal firearms handed over by civilians since I issued an ultimatum to hand over illegal firearms to us,” said Iskandar.

The ultimatum, issued on Feb. 14, 2012, was aimed at anticipating armed attacks ahead of the Aceh election. Police will raid homes believed to contain illegal firearms if they are not handed over before the deadline.

Iskandar emphasized that illegal arm owners caught after the deadline would be punished under Emergency Law No. 12/1951 on the Possession of Firearms, Ammunition and Explosives, which carries the death penalty and life imprisonment.

In regards to the attacks taking place ahead of the election, Iskandar said he planned to gather all candidates contesting the election and pledge to support a peaceful process.

“We regard the meeting as important so all candidates would be able to ensure that their supporters would be prepared to accept victory as well as defeat,” said Iskandar.

The Aceh legislative council has requested police to exercise leniency during the security process so as to prevent public unrest. “Please do conduct operations or raids, but please do it as gently as possible, without shows of force that cause public anxiety,” said Aceh legislator Abdullah Saleh.

Besides security, the Aceh legislature was also focusing on the eligible voters’ list (DPT) issue of the Aceh Independent Election Commission (KIP), because many of KIP’s DPTs were not in accordance with data in the field, thus could cause conflict between or among candidate supporters.

“For example, the DPT in Bener Meriah regency, with around 15,000 voters, does not correspond with the available data, and could lead to conflict later,” said Saleh.