JK says ballot count potentially cause conflict

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Vice President Jusuf Kalla (JK) ensured the implementation of regional elections on June 27 will be running safely. However, he stressed the tension could appear when the ballot has been counted.

“When the ballot count, we must be more careful,” said JK on Tuesday (June 26). Therefore, JK urged tightened of security during the ballot count.

JK said several factors will enable regional elections to run safely. One of the factors is no national axis coalition.

In addition, the strict rules of General Election Commission (KPU) related to implementation of the campaigns also will avoid collisions between supporters. Security maintained by National Police and Indonesian Military (TNI) also paid contribution to the smooth election.

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He said another important factor was the increase of understanding of society related to democracy. It meant access to information about prospective head of the region were easily known by the public.

Another thing that supported the condition was the native of parties that were not ideological anymore. JK said the religious party does not show the axis that has a strong identity.

“Because of that I believe regional elections will run safely,” JK added.

Meanwhile, National Police deputy chief Syafruddin said all the ballot boxes have been escorted. In addition, police has also increased security in some conflict-prone regions, such as Papua, East Nusa Tenggara, West Borneo, and North Sumatra.

The security also increased in regions with large demographics such as West Java, Central Java, and East Java. National Police said there are about 18 thousand personnels in conflict-prone areas.

Syafruddin ensured security apparatus would escort when the ballot count. Escort will be done when transporting ballots from polling station (TPS) to the subdistrict. He expected that the process of counting the ballots will run smoothly and securely.

“There is no potential conflict and hopefully it will run smoothly,” Syafruddin added.