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National Police to increase personnel as elections approach
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Several Policewomen (Polwan) initiating practice using motorcycles during the inauguration of patrol policewoman in the Police Headquarters of Blitar, East Java, on Friday (24/3). (ANTARA FOTO/Irfan Anshori)
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ndonesia’s atmosphere has become livelier as the country prepares for another presidential election, bringing about campaigns and rallies around the country that promise a better future. The police will be on high alert, as they are tasked with ensuring the peaceful nature of these activities.
To maintain the conducive atmosphere and security of the 2024 elections, the National Police headquarters will send additional troops to the Papua region. Head of public relations of the Papua Police, Commr. Ignatius Benny Prabowo, confirmed that his team would have a number of additional personnel arriving in order to secure the election.
The increased deployment has been linked to areas that are viewed as more conflict-prone than others. In the Papua region specifically, these areas are Intan Jaya, Dogiyai, Deiyai, Puncak, Nduga, Lanny Jaya, Puncak Jaya, Yahukimo, the Bintang Mountains, Jayawijaya, Tolikara and Yalimo.
To further ensure the safety of voters, Benny instructed his personnel to continue carrying out early detection if there is a threat to security and stability in Papua during preparations for and after the 2024 elections.
Regarding the number of additional personnel that will be sent by the National Police headquarters, Benny said his office was still collecting the required data for proposals for additional personnel, which will soon be submitted to the headquarter for further review.
The chairman of the General Election Supervisory Body (Bawaslu), Rahmat Bagja, expressed the importance of the role of the National Police in achieving quality and fair elections. According to him, female police officers will play a central role in providing security and enforcing elections and electoral law (pilkada).
"We have to remember that in the 2019 election demonstrations, chaos arose because masses of women came forward. Therefore, we need a security approach that includes policewomen on the front line, so that it doesn't escalate into riots," Rahmat said, as he expressed his hope for a successful synergy between election organizers and the National Police.
"Election organizers, the General Elections Commissions [KPU], Bawaslu and the Election Organization Ethics Council [DKPP] together with the National Police and Indonesian Military [TNI] and stakeholders such as traditional leaders, community leaders or ulama need to work together to create effective election security,” he added.
He further explained that the role of the police was to ensure security and public order at every stage of election. The police will be able to enforce election law at the integrated law enforcement center (Sentra Gakkumdu) through the established synergy with Bawaslu and the prosecutor's office, though all reports of crimes related to the election must first go through Bawaslu.
He also stated that the role of the National Police is no less important in providing voter education by providing the correct information to the public.
"Policewomen can also join the scope of women's supervision in providing electoral education while maximizing participatory supervision. We support strengthening the professionalism of policewomen in elections," he said.
