JAKARTA (Indonesia Today) – Almost 2,000 police officers are deployed to guard 3,223 polling booths in South Jakarta. The second round of Jakarta gubernatorial election is scheduled Thursday, September 20.
Aswin, spokesperson of South Jakarta Police, said about 1,969 officers from Regional Police, South Jakarta District, and Depok District are deployed, including mobile brigade members.??Aswin said military officers and civil servants from Manpower Ministry are also deployed.
The election is so important that President SBY invited a cabinet meeting to discuss Jakarta situation on Wednesday (Sept 19).??
“The President basically asked for an update about security issues for tomorrow’s election,” said Lt General Marciano Norman, head of National Intelligence Agency (BIN).??
Djoko Suyanto, coordinating minister for politics and security, appealed to supporters of competing candidates Fauzi Bowo and Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo to maintain peace regardless of who will come out as the winner.
Polling from some agencies pointed to a possible tight race tomorrow. The campaign period has been filled with negative and racial sentiments. (haryanto@theindonesiatoday.com)??
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