"The regional elections will be carried out as scheduled namely on February 16," the minister said after attending a meeting at the office of the coordinating minister for political, security and legal affairs here on Wednesday.
The meeting was attended by all parties involved in the implementation of the elections in Aceh.
Gamawan said the meeting decided the elections would be carried out as scheduled across Aceh.
He hoped they would be smooth and secure. For that he called on all parties including political parties to assure that. "All parties, please help create a secure and calm atmosphere," he said.
Regarding the budget he said regulations had been made as a reference for the regional administrations to overcome problems.
"Directives have been made and therefore budget must not become a problem," he said.
He said the decision for the implementation of the regional elections was the authority of the Aceh Independent Election Committee (KIP).
On proposals for the opening of an opportunity for Aceh Party to be able to participate in the elections Gamawan said that it was the authority of the committee to decide.
Regarding shooting incidents recently Gamawan said based on information from the police the incidents were not related to political developments ahead of the elections. He said they were pure criminal cases.
National Police Chief General Timur Pradopo confirmed that the incidents were pure criminal.
"Until now no evidence has been found showing they are related to other factors," he said before attending a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
He said the police would continue assuring security in the region and find the perpetrators.
With regard to the shooting incident on December 4, 2011, he said the police had already arrested two suspects.
They were allegedly involved in the shooting incident in Pusong, Lhokseumawe on Thursday (December 29) that left three people dead.
The victims were all workers in a rubber plantation. Regarding the shooting incident on the new year eve he said the police were still investigating it.
(T.H017/Uu.H-YH/HAJM/S012)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
