The police have urged bars, night clubs, massage parlors, and liquor shops to remain closed during the elections, Head of the Jayapura City Police Resort Adjunct Senior Commissioner Tober Sirait remarked here, Monday.
Besides this, safety should be prioritized, and hence, vehicle worthiness should always be checked, he emphasized.
Meanwhile, Chief Papua Provincial Police Inspector General Paulus Waterpauw has made assurance that the situation in Papua is safe and under control ahead of Pilkada.
"Overall, the security and public order situation is safe and under control. Hopefully, such a situation would be maintained," he noted.
In Papua Province, the regional head elections will be held simultaneously in Jayapura City and Jayapura District, Mappi, Sarmi, Tolikara, Nduga, Intan Jaya, Puncak Jaya, Lanny Jaya, Dogiai, and Yapen Islands District.
As many as 4,872 security personnel, comprising police and military officers, have been deployed to guard pilkada.
Logistics for pilkada have been distributed since Feb 6 in Papua and West Papua by helicopters rented by the National Regional Elections, among other things.
Earlier, acting governor of West Papua Province Eko Sorong had quoted President Joko Widodo as saying that the upcoming pilkada in the province would hopefully run peacefully and smoothly.
"Some 101 regions across Indonesia, including four in West Papau, will hold pilkada. The president hopes that it would be implemented smoothly and peacefully," Eko Subomo said in Sorong on Friday (Feb 10).
Pilkada will be implemented in Maybrat, Tambrauw, Sorong City, and Sorong District in West Papua on Feb 15.
He called on the inhabitants of West Papua to maintain unity during the democratic event.
"I really hope for the support of the West Papua people to make pilkada a success," he added.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017
