"At a meeting yesterday and based on the results of a regional administration leadership meeting, the national police chief stated that although the shootings did occur, they were not related to the regional elections," the coordinating minister for political, security and legal affairs said here on Thursday.
He said the incidents were more likely related to problems of how to empower local people in jobs through regional development programs to avoid social gaps.
"Based on reports from the governor and the regional police commander there is a social gap. We will find its root cause," he said.
Djoko meanwhile appealed to the local people to be able to manage and use democracy as a means to elect the right leader to advance the region.
Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi meanwhile had also said he had received reports from the police that the incidents were not related to the regional elections scheduled to be held on February 16.
"According to the national police chief it is not related to regional elections," he said when met at the presidential office on Tuesday.
National police chief General Timur Pradopo had already confirmed the Aceh case was pure criminal.
"So far we have found no evidence showing it is related to other things," he said before attending a cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
In connection with the incident on December 4, 2011 he said the police had arrested two suspects. The two were arrested on December 29 in Pusong, Lhokseumawe.
The victims of the incident were workers of a rubber plantation company in North Aceh who are villagers of Bukit Lawang, Binjai, North Sumatra.
Regarding the shooting on the New Year`s eve police are still investigating it.
(Uu.H-YH/HAJM/S012)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2012
