TIGHT SECURITY MEASURES IN PLACE FOR ELECTION RESULT ANNOUNCEMENT by Fardah

  Jakarta, July 17, 2014 (Antara) - Indonesia had organized its third direct and democratic presidential election peacefully on July 9, 2014, participated enthusiastically by most of over 190 million eligible voters of the country having a population of about 250 million.

         However, a couple of hours after the polls were closed, both the presidential candidates--Prabowo Subianto and Joko Widodo (Jokowi)--had claimed victory in a tight election that has divided the public and media alike.  

    The head-to-head presidential race has triggered a tension between the supporters of the two candidates since the beginning of the campaign period from June 5 to July 5, 2014.

         The tension has escalated as various quick counts by pollsters showed Prabowo Subianto and Jokowi as neck-to-neck in the presidential race. The authorities are worried that if the results are too close, riots and clashes will ensue.

         Both the candidates and their supporters have been reiterated to stay calm and wait for the official results to be announced by the General Elections Commission (KPU) on July 22, 2014.  
    The KPU's announcement is critical as the country's democracy will be tested in terms of whether the loser will accept people's choice and the winner will show magnanimity toward his rival.

         While calling on the public not to be worried, the Indonesian National Police (Polri), which is supported by the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), has made preparations for securing the situation during the announcement.

         "We have taken relevant security measures at all stages. The reserves are also ready, and so is the back up from the TNI. Additional personnel will be deployed at the KPU office," Chief of the National Police General Sutarman said in Jakarta on July 16, 2014.

         Although the announcement will be made in Jakarta, several police personnel will be deployed to guard the Banten-Jakarta and Bandung-Jakarta borders.

         "We will monitor and guard the two borders in anticipation of any exodus. But, hopefully, there has been none, so the situation is still safe," Sutarman pointed out.

         The police chief had also urged the supporters of the two rival candidates to maintain public order. He emphasized that the public should uphold democratic principles and avoid being anarchists.

         The police, however, have chalked out a contingency plan to tackle any chaos or riots during the announcement. Sutarman claimed that the police personnel have been receiving training on security procedures to handle riots. "No shoot-at-sight instructions have been given, but the police personnel are allowed to use weapons," he stated.

         The general explained that he had deployed maximal personnel to secure the election process. Two-thirds of the personnel have been guarding the election process, while one-third have been providing public services.

         At the KPU office, the Jakarta Metropolitan Police will apply a multi-tiered security system to ensure security before and during the announcement. The KPU compound will be secured," Brigadier General Sudjarno, the Jakarta Police deputy chief, noted on July 17, 2014.

         Sudjarno remarked that at the time of the announcement, the police will cordon off the KPU office to prohibit the entry of people within a certain radius of the building.

         A day before the final recapitulation of votes, Sudjarno declared that the police will conduct a security drill. The supporters of rival candidates attending the announcement will be gathered at different locations to prevent a possible clash that can arise during the mass gathering.

         He explained that the command will deploy 3,121 personnel to ensure security during the final recapitulation, ahead of the announcement.

         Being assigned the task of supporting the police, TNI Chief General Moeldoko on July 16, 2104, supervised the TNI preparations. The general visited the Army Strategic Command (Kostrad) headquarters, where he was greeted by Kostrad Commander Lt. Gen. Gatot Nurmantio.

         He checked the video conference communication devices that connect every regional military command across the country and could provide real-time intelligence on security situation in every region.

         Moeldoko reminded the Kostrad personnel to secure the nation during and after the announcement optimally. He instructed military officers to use blank ammunition and rubber bullets. "If real bullet is found, it is not TNI using it," General Moeldoko stated.

         The 1997-1998 incident must not be repeated because civilians could become victims when military officers use live ammunition or real bullets, he said. However worse the situation becomes, no officer should use live ammunition, he stated.

         He also reminded the military personnel to remain neutral and firm in implementing security measures. He, however, reiterated that the military personnel should not hesitate in securing the situation. It is natural for soldiers as patriots to sacrifice for the nation, he said.

         Military personnel must closely follow the developments of the presidential election, so they could analyze the situation and prepare the security measures accordingly, he noted.

         TNI had deployed 23 thousand military personnel from the army, navy, and air force to support the police in securing the election process. About 10 thousand reserve personnel have also been put on standby.

         President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono when visiting Medan, North Sumatra, on July 15, expressed his hope that both pairs of presidential and vice presidential candidates--retired military general Prabowo Subianto and his running mate former economic chief minister Hatta Rajasa, and their rival, Jakarta governor Jokowi and former vice president Jusuf Kalla--will accept the election results to be announced by the KPU.

        "I thank the people that the legislative elections had run well--democratic, safe and orderly, and smooth. The presidential election has also run peacefully and democratically. Now, let us guard and watch the vote count process carried out by the KPU," the president said.

        If any of the candidates express objection to the vote count results, the president said, then a channel is available to seek settlement, namely through the Constitutional Court (MK). "Hopefully, MK can present the best decision," the president added. ***1***
(f001/INE)
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