So, we have already mapped regions which are safe and vulnerable..."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian police will deploy special task forces ahead of the legislative elections on April 9 to ensure security.

"The police have already formed task forces at regional as well as district police commands to ensure security of the elections process," National Polices Director of General Crimes, Brigadier General Herry Prastowo, stated during a discussion at state RRI radio station here on Thursday.

Hepointed out that the task forces will focus on regions considered vulnerable such as Aceh, Maluku, Papua, and Poso.

"So, we have already mapped regions which are safe and vulnerable and taken anticipatory measures in line with the directives," he clarified.

Citing an example, he pointed out that in Aceh, the police would involve its elite Mobile Brigade (Brimob) unit in a special operation code-named "Mantap Brata".

In anticipation of violations, he asserted that the police would also optimize the function of the General Elections Law Enforcement Center involving the General Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu), the police and the prosecutors office.

"Our role is to examine and investigate cases categorized as crimes, which will be tackled by the police," he explained.

The national police have already prepared 253,035 personnel for ensuring security of the five-yearly event at central and district levels.

There are 31 provincial police commands in the country 11 of them led by inspector generals and 20 other by brigadier generals.

A total of 450 district police commands meanwhile, will be led by adjunct senior commissioner.

A total of 23,450 military personnel and 1,091,556 civilian community security guards will also be involved in assuring the security of the elections that will have participation from 186,172,508 eligible voters, according to data from the General Elections Commission (KPU), across 545,778 polling stations.

Elections security operations have actually been carried out since distribution of elections logistics and will last for 224 days until the inauguration of the new president and vice president to be elected later on July 9 after the legislative elections.

Prastowo assured that the police will use preventive, preemptive and repressive measures in carrying out operations.

(Reporting by Juwita Trisna Rahayu/Uu.H-YH/INE/KR-BSR/A014)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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