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Authorities warn of threat of armed groups in Papua
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Ahead of voting day -- Local residents sort and fold ballot papers for the regional head election in Jayapura, Papua, scheduled for Feb.15. (JP/Nethy Dharma Somba)
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uthorities have beefed up security in Papua one week before voters go to the polls to elect new leaders, with armed civilian groups expected to top the security agenda.
Security authorities in Papua are on alert in four out of 11 regencies and municipalities set to hold elections on Feb. 15. They comprise Lanny Jaya, Nduga, Puncak Jaya and Tolikara.
With the presence of armed groups, security forces are working to ensure the elections in the four regencies run peacefully.
“Close attention is being paid to these four areas because the security vulnerability level there is very high. Armed civilian groups, which possess around 200 firearms, are present in those areas. Their existence could be used by candidates for election-related purposes,” said Military Command (Kodam) XVII/Cendrawasih chief Maj. Gen. Hinsa Siburian.
He was speaking at a meeting with members of House of Representatives Commission II on regional affairs during their recent visit to Papua to monitor election preparations.
(Read also: Disabled voters in Papua fight for access to polling stations)
Siburian further explained that Lanny Jaya and Tolikara had dark experiences five years ago when a dispute during a regional election erupted into a tribal war that led to deaths.
“In Lanny Jaya and Tolikara, candidates who suffered losses in the regional elections five years ago are running again and competing against incumbent candidates who won the election back then. There are worries that the tense situation five years ago will be repeated and so security precautions must be heightened,” he said.
As many as 2,500 Kodam XVII/ Cendrawasih personnel will be on standby during the elections. “They are ready to be deployed to back up the police in securing the regional elections,” said Siburian.
Meanwhile, Papua Police chief Insp.Gen. Paulus Waterpauw said the police had identified areas prone to conflict and prepared 2,774 police personnel, including National Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) members from Jakarta, to be deployed to the areas.
“In principle, the Papua Police are ready to secure regional elections in this province and will support decisions by the General Elections Commission as the organizer of the elections,” he said.
(Read also: Six issues to watch ahead of election day)
Brimob personnel also will be deployed to secure elections in Central Sulawesi and Jakarta. Hundreds of Brimob personnel from the Central Java Police will be dispatched to help secure the Jakarta gubernatorial election. They will be joined by personnel from other provincial police commands, who will be deployed to the capital, one of three areas considered most prone to security threats during the elections.
“They comprise 400 personnel or four company-level units [SSK]. They will be at the service of the Jakarta Police,” Central Java Police Insp. Gen. Condro Kirono said in Semarang on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, two Brimob companies have been deployed to secure the regental election in Buol, Central Sulawesi.
“One Brimob company from the Central Java Police has arrived in Buol while one company from Brimob headquarters in Kelapa Dua will arrive on Feb. 11,” said Buol Police chief Adj.Sr.Comr. Mujianto on Wednesday.
He said the deployment of hundreds of Brimob personnel would guarantee the security of Buol residents so they could exercise their right to vote safely and peacefully.
Papua Governor Lukas Enembe reminded all relevant parties to act independently and avoid bias toward any candidate. “I hope regional elections in Papua can run normally according to prevailing rules. I remind the KPU as the election organizer and police personnel to remain neutral. Their siding with any candidates could ruin the elections in Papua,” said Lukas.
