"We convey our deepest condolences over the demise of Selvianus, head of the Polling Station No 1 in Adodo Molu," Syamsul Rifan Kubangun, Maluku General Election Office (KPU Maluku) head, remarked here, Tuesday.
Chairman of the National General Election Commission (KPU) Arief Budman informed the press in Jakarta on Monday that 91 officers of the Polling Station Working Committees (KPPS) in 19 Indonesian provinces had lost their lives, while 374 others had fallen sick after being overcome by fatigue owing to protracted work hours.
The KPU intends to meet with the Finance Ministry's officials, Tuesday (Apr 23), for discussions on financial compensation to be offered in case of death and illness that are not covered under insurance.
The Commission has put forth a suggestion to offer Rp30 million-Rp36 million to the kin of the deceased, close to Rp30 million for the ailing, and maximum of Rp16 million to those suffering wounds.
In the meantime, exhaustion claimed the lives of six TPS officers in South Sumatra, and two underwent hospitalization while running polling stations in their areas.
The deceased officers were from Suka Mulya Village, OKI District; Blambangan Village, OKU District; Sumberjaya Village, Banyuasin District; Tanjung Dalam Keluang Village, Muba District; Anyar Village, East OKU District; and Gunung Batu Village, also in East OKU District, Hepriadi of the KPU South Sumatra, noted in Palembang, Monday.
Four officers in North Sulawesi were the other victims of death from exhaustion arising from organizing the elections. One officer was from Talaud, while three were from Manado, Ardiles Mewoh, KPU North Sulawesi head, remarked in Manado, Monday.
West Java recorded the highest number of deaths from exhaustion, markedly 30 officers, followed by East Java Province, with nine officers.
The election officers were overburdened with tasks encompassing serving voters and completing the ballot counting process, with the only breaks being meal times, while Muslims took prayer breaks, he explained.
On the whole, election officers worked non-stop for almost 48 hours, as they had to make preparations for the logistics and facilities for the electoral process, a day before voting.
Indonesia organized the world's largest and most complicated single-day vote on April 17, 2019, in which 192 million were eligible to cast their ballot. The turnout was estimated to reach 80 percent.
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Translator: Alex S, Dyah D, Fardah
Editor: Azizah Fitriyanti
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