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Police chief vows stern security approach on election day
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An election official assists a blind voter in casting his ballot at a polling station in Cawang, Jakarta, on Wednesday. Jakarta is one of 101 regions concurrently holding regional elections on Feb. 15. (Antara/Widodo S. Jusuf)
N
ational Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian has pledged a zero tolerance response to possible commotion or misconduct during and after voting day.
A force of 325,000 police and military personnel will be joined by members of the National Unity and Community Protection Agency (Kesbanglinmas) in guarding the country's second concurrent elections on Wednesday, held in 101 regions. Jakarta alone is protected by 70,000 personnel.
"I will dismiss officers if they are proven to have failed to prevent or even be involved in conflicts," Tito said during the inspection of a polling station in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.
He said the biggest concern was the post-election period, when people begin to react to the election results.
"If the results of an election to not please some people, we suggest they use legal process to pursue it and refrain from anything unlawful, or else they will face the law," Tito said.
(Read also: Elections to define democracy’s new course)
House of Representatives Commission III member Bambang Soesatyo said he appreciated measures taken by the police to secure the elections, especially in Jakarta.
"Jakarta is the national barometer, and we support the decisive steps the police chief has taken with zero tolerance and promises to take immediate action if there's any misconduct at his institution," he said. (dis/wit)
