JAKARTA, April 17 (NNN-ANTARA) – Indonesian Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu voiced the readiness of the Special Force of the Indonesian Air Force to assist in safeguarding the implementation of the legislative and presidential elections on April 17, 2019.
“During the election period, the Special Force Corps will aid in ensuring the success of the 2019 election by backing security arrangements,” the minister noted in a statement here, Monday.
Some personnel of the Special Force are stationed in different regions to facilitate the process of securing the elections.
While addressing some one thousand officers of the Special Force of the Air Force at the Squadron 45 in Halim Perdanakusuma, Jakarta, Monday, Ryacudu called on them to maintain constant vigil against likely threats against the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia while also reminding military officers to stay neutral during the election process.
In the meantime, Coordinating Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto has ensured security during the simultaneous legislative and presidential elections scheduled across Indonesia’s 34 provinces on April 17, 2019.
“We have to ensure that the process is held peacefully, smoothly, and successfully,” Wiranto, the Indonesian Defense Forces’ (TNI’s) ex-commander, emphasized while chairing a meeting held to discuss final preparations for security arrangements during the voting day, here, Monday.
The minister believes that protection should be guaranteed to those planning to cast their ballot on Wednesday.
Wiranto called for free and safe access for eligible voters to polling stations.
The 2019 race is set to be a repeat of the controversial 2014 presidential election that brought to light the country’s divide, as Joko Widodo (Jokowi) contested against retired general Prabowo Subianto. Incumbent Jokowi has selected well-known cleric Ma’ruf Amin as his running mate, while Subianto has paired with successful, young businessman Sandiaga Uno.
The General Election Commission (KPU) recently reported that the number of eligible voters on the Officially Voters’ List (DPT) reached 192,866,254 people, comprising 190,779,969 throughout Indonesia and 2,086,285 Indonesians overseas.
KPU Chairman Arief Budiman noted on April 8, 2019, that the commission had set up 809,699 polling stations across 34 Indonesian provinces.
NNN-ANTARA