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KPU Cilacap to beef up security for election day on Nusakambangan
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Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel join police personnel in guarding the Wijaya Pura Dock area of Nusakambangan prison island in Cilacap, Central Java. (Agus Maryono/JP) (JP/Agus Maryono)
T
he General Elections Commissions (KPU) Cilacap regency in Central Java has requested the police and Indonesian Military (TNI) to safeguard five polling stations at Nusakambangan prison island on the simultaneous regional election on Feb. 15 to prevent inmates from trying to escape from the island.
Earlier in January, two inmates escaped from the island by climbing over a fence that had been left unguarded. They were recaptured after being on the run for over a week.
“We will erect five polling stations on Nusakambangan prison island. So far, there are 416 voters, around 30 percent of the total number of inmates. Each polling station will be able to accommodate between 50 and 100 voters,” KPU Cilacap regency head Sigit Kwartianto said on Thursday.
“We do hope that everything will be safe and sound. We have coordinated with the police and TNI [to beef up security],” he added.
(Read also: Personnel readied to secure regional elections in C. Java)
There are three candidate pairs running in this year’s election, namely incumbent Tato Suwarto Pamuji – Syamsul, Taufik Nurhidayat – Faiqoh Subky and Fran Lukman – Bambang Sutanto.
Of the total Cilacap population of 1.8 million, there are 1.5 million eligible voters. Cilacap is one of seven regencies across Central Java holding elections this year. Other regencies are Brebes, Banjarnegara, Batang, Jepara, Pati and Salatiga. (trw)
