61,000 Security Personnel to Be Deployed on Voting Day
This article was updated on Tuesday (18/04) at 5:30 p.m. to add footage of National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian.
Jakarta. A combined force of 61,000 personnel will be deployed to secure more than 13,000 polling stations for the second round of the Jakarta gubernatorial election on Wednesday (19/04).
National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian said 20,000 officers will be deployed, in conjunction with 15,000 members of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and 26,000 of the Community Protection Agency (Linmas).
An additional 1,000 police officers and military personnel will be on standby in case any emergencies, Tito added.
Police have also banned mass gatherings planned for election day to avoid physical and psychological intimidation targeted towards voters.
"We have issued a notice regarding any mass actions. Indeed, we have banned any such activity and will not allow groups to monitor polling stations," Tito said during a preparatory meeting in Ancol, North Jakarta, on Tuesday.
"We will guarantee public safety and order on voting day."
Chief Security Minister Wiranto and TNI chief Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo were also present at the meeting.
Wiranto expressed hope that the election will run smoothly and peacefully, adding that members of the military and the police have discussed numerous potential security scenarios to prepare for any unlawful mass gatherings.
"We will not let outside parties intervene, disturb or threaten Wednesday's voting process," he said.
Meanwhile, Gatot said military personnel will ensure voter safety at the city's polling stations.
"I guarantee that TNI forces will apprehend any unlawful agitators and hand them over to the city administration for prosecution," he said.
Incumbent Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama and his running mate, Djarot Saiful Hidayat, will face off against former education minister Anies Baswedan and businessman Sandiaga Uno, after neither candidate pair managed to secure more than 50 percent of the vote in the first round on Feb. 15.
Watch Indonesia Highlights at 8 p.m. tonight on the Jakarta Globe News Channel and Facebook Live to find out more about the security for gubernatorial election run-off on April 19.
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