Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo instructed on Monday governors across Indonesia to tighten anticipative measures against conflict, which could erupt during the counting of votes of the Dec. 9 simultaneous regional elections.  

The minister also called on the governors to coordinate with societal leaders and law enforcers.

'€œIf necessary, they should put their respective areas under Siaga Satu status, or the highest level of alert, during the counting of votes, the declaration of winners of the elections and the announcement of Constitutional Court rulings on lawsuits on alleged electoral fraud,'€ said Tjahjo as quoted by kompas.com in a radiogram sent to governors across the country on Monday.

The minister said regional heads needed to coordinate with regional leader communication forums (Forkompinda) in their respective areas to pay close attention to the dynamics that were growing within society.

He further said that regional heads needed to coordinate with National Police and Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) officers to secure vital objects related to the counting of votes of the regional elections.

'€œThe emotions of elite figures and all society members during the regional elections were quite high. Don'€™t let the simultaneous regional elections, which ran smoothly and without conflict, lead to unwanted consequences because of our inattentiveness in coordinating security precautions and early detection,'€ said Tjahjo.

He said election violence such as that in North Kalimantan should not happen in other areas.

As earlier reported, the North Kalimantan governor office'€™s hall was torched by a mob on Saturday. The burning occurred after a mass protest staged by supporters of candidate pair Jusuf SK and Martin Billa, who called for the revoking of the result of the province'€™s election. (ebf)(+)

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