F

ollowing the steps of other regional heads, all incumbents in 11 regencies and cities in Papua will vie for reelection in February, but their chances may be slim because of the local dynamics in the country’s easternmost region.

As many as 11 of the 80 tickets contesting the elections are incumbents. Among them are regents Henock Ibo of Puncak Jaya, Befa Jigibalom of Lanny Jaya, Matthew Awaitauw of Jayapura, Mesak Manibor of Sarmi, Toni Tesar of Yapen, Usman Wanimbo of Tolikara, Yairus Gwijangge of Nduga, Herman Aw of Dogiyai and Stephen Kaisma of Mappi and Jayapura Mayor Benhur Tommy Mano.

“All incumbents wish to be re-elected in the simultaneous pilkada [regional elections],” said Papua General Elections Commission (KPUD Papua) member Tarwinto.

The country will hold regional head elections in 101 regions on Feb. 15, including the 11 regions in Papua.

Despite the strong chance for incumbents to be re-elected in other regions, incumbents in Papua may not be so lucky.

In the first simultaneous elections in Papua last December, the other 11 regencies in Papua were included.

The results were surprising, as out of nine incumbents, only two were re-elected, namely Nabire regent Isaias Douw and Yalimo regent Er Dabi, while the rest were crushed by their rivals.

Carolus Bolly, a Democratic Party politician in Papua, said he is optimistic that the incumbents who get his party’s support will be re-elected.

“There are six incumbents who are also party branch board heads contesting the elections and we are sure to win the elections in Papua,” he said.

Security issues still become a major issue in Papua with frequent clashes among tribes and clashes between security officers and armed civilian groups.

Political parties have struggled to maintain support from local members as well as from voters.

Papua is also the only region that is allowed to use a so-called noken system, a non-secret voting system in which voters place their ballots in one of several traditional bags, called noken. The number of bags corresponds to the number of candidates. Each candidate has his or her own bag to receive ballots and the bags are hung in the open for all to see.

The lack of secrecy means that village or customary leaders are able to pressurize their people to vote according to his choice, and if there is any defiance, people could end up fighting each other.

The Papua Police have prepared 1,323 personnel and these are to be bolstered by 337 Indonesian Military personnel and 200 police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) members from Kelapa Dua, Jakarta, to secure the elections.

Papua Police chief Insp. Gen. Paulus Waterpauw said four regions taking part in the elections were considered prone to conflict because of the presence of armed civilian groups and internal splits in party support for candidates.

The four regions are Lanny Jaya, Nduga and Tolikara regencies and Jayapura.

“Political parties giving split support are found in the four regions, so they are prone to conflict, although prospective candidates can understand the party’s decision to not support him or her, we fear the presence of their supporters,” said Waterpauw.

The Papua Police, added Waterpauw, had planned the security starting from the registration of candidates until after the inauguration of the elected local leaders.